Engineering the bio-interface for the next generation of biomedical devices

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The biointerface is where material meets biology. Biointerface science aims to understand and control the behaviour of biological entities on surfaces. One of the most sure-fire ways to modulate this behaviour is by controlling the interfacial (bio)chemical and physical properties, an approach hereafter referred to as engineering the biointerface. ***Biomedical research provides a strong motivation for engineering the biointerface; the performance of many biomedical devices could be vastly improved if their surfaces were engineered to allow for a more active interaction with complex biological fluids such as blood, ultimately improving our quality of life, decreasing healthcare-associated costs, and saving lives. The status quo in surface engineering of biomedical devices is to render them non-toxic (erroneously named “biocompatible”) and, in some cases, passive (i.e., blindly repellent of all biomolecules). A truly biocompatible surface, however, is a surface that can beneficially co-exist with the complex biological landscape at the desired site of application, actively highlighting positive interactions and diminishing undesired interactions.***My research program focuses on the design and development of engineered biointerfaces with multimodal functionality, emphasizing on their integration into biomedical devices. Specifically, I propose to tackle one of the main challenges in designing effective biointerfaces, namely minimizing non-specific interactions while retaining and enhancing the desired bio-functionality of the interface. The proposed approach for realizing this objective is to design bio-functional omniphobic interfaces. The novelty of the proposed research lies in integrating bio-functionality, i.e., specific interaction with target biomolecules, with lubricant-based, omniphobic (super hydrophobic and slippery) surfaces that have proven highly effective at avoiding non-specific attachment and the cascade of complications that follow, the most notable being formation of blood clots.***The proposed research objective will be realized in three steps: (i) a fundamental comprehensive study aimed at developing the processes for producing bio-functional omniphobic surfaces and investigating their function and interaction with bio-species, followed by utilizing the developed knowledge for designing: (ii) extracorporeal devices for cleansing biological targets from blood without the need for anticoagulants, and (iii) mechanical heart valves that aid post-operation healing. ***This research program is envisioned as the first step towards establishing a leading world-class research platform focused on developing a fundamental understanding of the phenomena that govern the interactions at the biointerface, with the aim of translating this knowledge to applications with real-life impact addressing global challenges in human health.