Biodegradable polymers
Biodegradable polymers defined as materials changing their chemical, physical and mechanical properties when exposed to different environmental or natural biological processes offer multiple solutions to healthcare or environmental problems.
Biodegradable polymers derived from biomolecules are the research topic of the Department, with a special focus on lipids (fatty acids) as building blocks for condensation and addition polyreactions to synthesize polyesters, polyanhydrides or polyurethanes suitable for micro/nanocapsules formulations as drug delivery systems or micro/nanofibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering. Carbohydrates represented by chitosan are used for synthesis of new derivatives to modulate their antibacterial or mucoadhesive properties for chronic or cancerous diseases treatment. Other representative of carbohydrates, bacterial cellulose, have great potential for antibacterial and antiviral activity.
Photocurable soft resins
Rapid conversion of materials from sol to gel upon UV light offers great potential for minimally invasive techniques, where material administration via syringe or small diameter device can bring unprecendent solutions for soft tissue repair, including hernia or stretch marks. Photocurable and hybrid elastomeric networks with tailored degradation time and adhesion to wet surfaces are explored for heart tissue engineering.
Composite materials
Strong and stiff composite materials are derived from two or more separate components. Combination of polymer or polymer blends with reinforcing phases (fibres, platelets or spheres) offers complex structures where surfaces and interphases have strong effect on physical, electrical and mechanical properties.
