Biological biomaterial characterization

Biomaterials are materials which are suited for contact with biological systems and must fulfil specific material requirements to provide functionality within the biological environment.

Fraunhofer offers evaluation of biomaterials in terms of their physico-chemical and their mechanical properties as well as their interaction with cells and tissue.

At Fraunhofer IGB we provide the cell culture technology needed to characterize the cytocompatibility and biofunctionality of your biomaterial. We offer  standard methods and advanced techniques and assays to evaluate cell-material interaction the cell status on the protein level, the RNA level and the DNA level

Characterization of cell-material interactions

Evaluation of cell-adhesion, e.g. by

• cell-type specific morphology
• cell-matrix and cell-cell anchor sites
• cytoskeleton

Evaluation of cell function, e.g. by

• cell viability
• membrane integrity
• proliferation of cells
• metabolic activity
• cell-type specific marker expression

Evaluation of released factors, e.g.

• enzymes
• inflammation markers
• composition of  produced extra cellular matrix

We analyse your cells e.g. by histological and immunhistological staining, (confocal) fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry (FACS), polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Special services

Next-generation sequencing offers whole-genome and whole-transcriptome profiling.

Our cell-based test assay detects pyrogen residues e.g. on medical devices and in biomaterials and we provide 3D skin models for biomaterial testing.

Patent EP 1 290 145B1 (Three-dimensional skin model)

BioRap – Herstellung bio-inspirierter Versorgungssysteme für Transplantate mittels Rapid Prototyping über Inkjet-Druck und Multiphotonenpolymerisation (funded by Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, 2008 - 2011)

ArtiVasc 3D – Artificial vascularised scaffolds for 3D-tissue regeneration (funded by the EU, 2011 - 2015)