Multifunctional biomaterials and biomimetic models for biomedical applications

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 230 million major surgical procedures are performed annually worldwide. These procedures involve utilizing various medical tools, devices or implants such as catheters, vascular grafts and joint implants. Despite their prevalence, complications such as clot formation and infection are associated with these biointerfaces. In addition to pathological complications, the lack of tissue-like biomimetic properties and the inability of synthetic implants to effectively promote tissue integration and tissue regeneration is troublesome, especially for permanent medical implants such as vascular grafts. These complications extend hospital stays, delay treatment, hinder the performance of the device, lead to post-operative complications and impose a great burden on the global healthcare system. Thus, understanding the complex interaction between the biological and synthetic systems and developing new biointerfaces with superior properties is of immense importance. The long-term objective of my research program is to study and acquire in-depth understanding about the cascade of physiological responses and interactions occurring at the interface of the biomaterial and biological systems (biointerface), in order to develop advanced biomaterials to effectively tackle the complications and limitations associated with synthetic biointerfaces. Building on my expertise in creating anticoagulant and lubricant-infused/superhydrophobic coatings, I aim to investigate new combinations of different materials and fabrication methods to develop multiphasic biomaterials with superior biocompatibility and biomimetic properties. One of the main focuses of the proposed research program is to integrate omniphobicity into natural and synthetic biomimetic hydrogel systems (e.g. bacterial nanocellulose (BNC)-based hydrogels) and develop novel multifunctional platforms for various biomedical applications. This will be achieved through the pursuit of three integrated short-term objectives: Objective1(O1): Developing novel multiphasic BNC-based hydrogels with superhydrophobic/ omniphobic/lubricant-infused diffusion barriers Objective2 (O2): Impregnating multiphasic lubricant-infused BNC constructs with biofunctional features and creating multifunctional BNC substrates that express simultaneous repellency and biotargeting properties. Objective 3 (O3): Developing multiphasic, biofunctional and hemocompatible BNC-based artificial vascular grafts with tunable mechanical and biofunctional properties. My research program represents several novelties in creating the next generation of hemocompatible and biofunctional biomaterials and biomimetic models. The outcomes of my research program could significantly decrease biointerface-associated complications and ultimately reduce the financial burden on the Canadian healthcare system.