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.