Design, developement and validation of materials and surfaces for innovative biomaterials

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In the last decades, biomaterials have been successful to improve quality of the life for millions. However, very rare are the applications for which biomaterials and medical devices are completely successful. Failures or clinical complications are often observed, with different incidences related to the applications. The Research Proposal I am putting forward is a NSERC discovery program very solidly based and anchored on studying material science and engineering aspects applied to the cardiovascular medical field. ***Specifically, I propose to pursue and consolidate a new 3 blocks-research program for: 1) investigating the parameters allowing the development of a highly-adherent and strongly-cohesive coating mainly based on plasma polymerization for metallic devices; 2) designing a new class of degradable metals specific for cardiovascular devices; and 3) developing new strategies for interfacing materials and cells under mechanical stresses in specific controlled bioreactors for the regeneration of the vascular tissue. The overall goal of blocks 1 and 2 is to provide at short and medium terms (1 to 5 years) new coatings and new materials capable to improve the clinical performances of medical devices. The overall goal of block 3 is to produce targeted knowledge and expertise susceptible to generate at long terms (10 to 15 years) specific methodologies for the regeneration of the functional vascular tissue. ***The proposed research program is very pertinent and timed to answer the need of the formation of highly qualified personnel, thus fulfilling precise social needs, and medical-device industry challenges. Moreover, the proposed research program is planned to result in a polyvalent technological platform susceptible to be applied to other fields and applications, including pharmaceutical, corrosion-resistant, optical, domestic, military and industrial, where specifically-designed materials and coatings with targeted properties are required. We are engineering solutions to biomedical challenges using advanced materials science and engineering. ***In this proposal, we both advance knowledge and train high quality personnel in key areas of strength for Canada. Our research environment is exceptional and particularly adapted to the new global market era we are facing now. More than 100 HQP were trained in our laboratory since 2008: Today, they pursue positions in academia, industry and government by using daily advanced knowledge, leadership, fast adaptive skills, global network connections and strategic thinking for which they have been trained with us. Our Laboratory is recognised to publish widely and in opening new doors in Science, patent new inventions and propose licenses, present at international conferences, collaborate with some twenty world leaders in academia and industry in four continents, and provide advices to regulatory governmental agencies. **