Biofunctionalization and biological evaluation of newly designed biomimetic organic/inorganic multilayer composites as bone replacement materials

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Herbert Jennissen; Professor Dr.-Ing. Klaus Liefeith
• Subject Area: Biomaterials
• Term: from 2007 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 35838075

A successful therapy of bone defects by osteointegrative biomaterials depends on the osteogenic potential of the biomaterial surface. The idea underlying this project is to prefabricate a novel calcium phosphate polyelectrolyte multilayer composite similar to the matrix produced by bone, in order to reduce the cellular contribution to bone growth and thus to enhance bone growth as well as the osteoconductive potential of biomaterials. To simultaneously increase the osteoinductive potential it is planned to incorporate or immobilize BMP-2 in this matrix. Recent own studies have shown the cell stimulating effect and the osteoinductive capacity of BMP-2 immobilized on biomaterials. Less is known about the interactive effects between the cell matrix structure, bioactive inclusions and cells regarding the cell differentiation and bone mineralization. This project is focussed on the development of immobilisation procedures for the biomimetic functionalization of new materials with BMP-2 based on in situ crystallization of calcium phosphate within a structured organic matrix of polylelectrolytes. The fundamental novelty is the combination of cell differentiation strategies based on biochemical stimuli with matrix-like interactions between cells and biomaterial surfaces. Since technically both aspects, i.e. the prefabrication of the composite as well as the incorporation of BMP-2, are feasible, this work can be expected to lead to significant progress in the development of artificial scaffolds for bone growth.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants