Biomaterials Informatics and data-driven Biomaterials

Title Keynote:
Digitalizing the interface between biomaterials and cells
Learning Objectives:
The aims of this symposium are three folds:
1. To share recent progress in biomaterials big-data curation, sharing, analysis and exploitation
2. To highlight urgent needs of the domain in terms of data organization, open tools and repositories
3. To intiate and foster a community of biomaterials scientists committed to advancing data-driven biomaterials research
Proposed Program:
We will aim to atract abstract submission covering topics ranging from:
(1) New computational tools and the use of artificial intelligence in biomaterials research
(2) Data sharing in the domain- repositories and data-sharing initiatives (3) Information extraction
(4) databases and knowledge bases (5) Approaches for dealing with heterogeneous biomaterials data
Proponent 1 / Chair:
Osnat Hakimi
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Proponent 2 / Co-Chair:
Maria-Pau Ginebra
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Keynote Speaker:
Prof. Jan de Boer
Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Advanced technologies and cellular approaches for the development of precise 3D tendon and other musculoskeletal tissue substitutes and models to understand regeneration mechanisms

Title Keynote:
Magnetic assisted 3D bioprinting and mechanoactuation technologies for achieving advanced biofunctionality of 3D constructs and precise models to engineer the regeneration of tendons.
Learning Objectives:
Novel approaches in 3D and 4D printing, microfluidics and other emerging techniques for developing precise 3D tendon and other musculoskeletal tissue substitutes and 3D models to understand regeneration mechanisms. Cellular approaches, including those focusing on strategies for modulating inflammatory processes to trigger regenerative responses of tissue engineering therapies.
Proposed Program:
The keynote will focus on innovative technologies such as magnetic assisted 3D printing and microfluidics that, combined with adequate cellular approaches, can be used to either develop biomimetic/functional constructs for tissue regeneration or more realistic 3D tissue models to study tissue pathologies/healing mechanisms. The oral presentations shall address these topics.
Proponent 1 / Chair:
Dimitrios Zeugolis
Regenerative, Modular & Developmental Engineering Laboratory, NUIG, Galway, Ireland
Proponent 2 / Keynote Speaker:
Manuela Gomes
3B’s Research Group, I3Bs Institute, University of Minho, Guimares, Portugal
Co-Chair:
Denitsa Docheva
Department of Trauma Surgery, UNIVERSITY REGENSBURG MEDICAL CENTRE (UHREG), Regensburg, Germany

Bioinspired Antimicrobial Materials: Addressing Infections in Regenerative Medicine

Title Keynote:
Bioinspired strategies to combat multi-drug resistant biomaterial-associated infection
Learning Objectives:
This symposium focuses on a major topic of research for the biomaterials community, which will attract interest from young and experienced researchers alike. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the most advanced trends in the development of bioinspired antimicrobial materials.
Proposed Program:
We plan to cover a wide range of advanced strategies to design novel bioinspired antimicrobial materials, with a special focus on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), but including also bactericidal topographies, dual-action coatings (combining antibacterial and cell instructive potential), smart stimuli-responsive materials, and strategies to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria, among others.
Proponent 1 / Chair:
Prof. Conrado Aparicio
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
Proponent 2 / Co-Chair:
Dr. Carles Mas-Moruno
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Sebastian A. J. Zaat
Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Biocompatibility testing according to ISO 10993: what are the changes and what can the Biomaterials community learn from it?

Title Keynote:
Biocompatibility testing according to ISO 10993: what are the changes and what can the Biomaterials community learn from it?
Learning Objectives:
Learn the basics of ISO 10993
Understand the importance of literature studies
Learn the basics of a tox assessment (occurring prior to any cell culture test)
Learn from practical examples how to approach biocompatibility testing
Proposed Program:
The main document used commercially for biocompatibility testing is the ISO 10993 standard.
The recent changes of this standard have introduced what could be called a „pharma touch“ since biocompatibility assessment starts with a thorough analysis of potential leachables and their related toxicity. Systematic literature studies are also highly involved.
Proponent 1 / Chair:
Marc Bohner
RMS Foundation, Bettlach, Switzerland
Proponent 2 / Co-Chair:
Yassine Maazouz
RMS Foundation, Bettlach, Switzerland
Keynote Speaker:
Nicola Döbelin
RMS Foundation, Bettlach, Switzerland

Advances in Functionalization and Fabrication of Gelatin Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

Title Keynote:
Crosslinkable gelatins: From Innovative Chemistry and Valorization of Bioinks towards Human Trials: Utopia or Reality?
Learning Objectives:
The presentation will provide an overview of pros and cons associated with crosslinking chemistries, both from a processing (laser- versus extrusion-based 3D-printing and electrospinning) and an application perspective. Furthermore, the use of crosslinkable gelatin in vivo will be reported along with the trajectory towards Phase I clinical trials.
Proposed Program:
The Keynote Speaker will discuss advanced chemistries and fabrication technologies to prepare gelatin scaffolds. The other four speakers will be selected to present specific chemistries and/or fabrication technologies to regenerate different tissues, aimed at clinical applications or advanced in vitro models, to capture the interest of a wide audience.
Proponent 1 / Chair:
Silvia Fare
Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
Proponent 2 / Co-Chair:
Nicola Contessi Negrini
Imperial College London, London, UK
Keynote Speaker:
Sandra Van Vlierberghe
Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Role of biomaterial properties on cell-scaffold interplay

Title Keynote:
Mechanochemical processes at the cell/material interface
Learning Objectives:
Tissue engineering aims at the reproduction of cell-biomaterial interactions sensed by cells in vivo. The symposium will highlight recent evidences on the influence of biophysical and biochemical cues of biomaterials in mediating cell phenotype or response to treatment. Such knowledge is fundamental for tissue regeneration and modelling.
Proposed Program:
The keynote speaker will introduce the subject of the symposium, by highlighting how biomaterials properties may affect the mechano-chemical processes occurring at cell-biomaterials interface. The selected abstracts will cover innovative approaches in studying biomaterial impact on cell fate and behaviour, covering different biomaterials composition and architectures and different cell types.
Proponent 1 / Chair:
Valeria Chiono
Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Eng., Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
Proponent 2 / Co-Chair:
Alice Zoso
Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Eng., Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
Keynote Speaker:
Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
James Watt School of Engineering – University of Glasgow, Glasgow , UK

Innovative approaches to develop 3D nanostructured devices for bone and osteochondral regeneration

Title Keynote:tba
Learning Objectives:
Innovative synthesis processes; Bio-inspired 3-D devices; -Self-assembling materials; 3-D porous scaffolds with multi-scale hierarchical structure; Innovative Additive Manufacturing technologies and tools
Proposed Program:
To raise the discussion on new bio-inspired concepts in materials science, chemical approaches and innovative fabrication technologies capable to overcome the current limitations and yield significant advances in the field of development of 3-D scaffolds associating bio-relevant, often contrasting, properties, such as bioactive chemistry, porosity, nanostructure and damage-tolerant mechanical performance.
Proponent 1 / Chair:
Anna Tampieri
Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics, National Research Council, Faenza, Italy
Proponent 2 / Co-Chair:
Simone Sprio
Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics, National Research Council, Faenza, Italy
Keynote Speaker:
Maria-Pau Ginebra
Polytechnic University of Catalunya

Organ-on-a-chip technologies meet biofabrication: towards physiologically relevant organ models

Title Keynote:tba
Learning Objectives:
Biofabrication, including bioinks development and bioprinting technologies, can emulate living organs with a high complexity level. OoCs have a tremendous potential in spatiotemporally recreating physical forces and (bio-)chemical concentrations present in the human body. Integrating such technologies rationally would lead to highly physiologically relevant organs and diseases in vitro models.
Proposed Program:
The selected abstracts will report the latest advancements in materials and processing development for (i) biofabrication of 3D tissue/organs analogues and (ii) OoCs to study organ functions, disease mechanisms and responses to therapy. High visibility will be given to abstracts showing successfully integration of several technologies.
Proponent 1 / Chair:
Francesca Gervaso
Institute of Nanotechnolgy – National Research Council (CNR NANOTEC), Lecce, Italy
Proponent 2 / Co-Chair:
Alessandro Polini
Institute of Nanotechnolgy – National Research Council (CNR NANOTEC), Lecce, Italy
Keynote Speaker:
Prof. Lorenzo Moroni
MERLN – Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University

Hybrid cell/microbiomaterial 3D assemblies

Title Keynote:tba
Learning Objectives:
At this symposium, the participants will learn how to:
– identify the main criteria for designing instructive designer microbiomaterials.
– analyze and interpret the advanced interactions between progenitor cells and therapeutic micron-scale biomaterials.
– apply these principles in developing 3D hybrid microtissues for regenerative medicine applications.
Proponent 1:
Pamela Habibovic
MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Proponent 2 / Chair:
Roman Truckenmuller
MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Co-Chair:
Zeinab (Niloofar) Tahmasebi Birgani
MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Mariana B. Oliveira
Universidade de Aveiro,Aveiro, Portugal

ISBF (International Society for Biofabrication) Special Symposium on „Combination of Technologies in Biofabrication Processes“

Keynote Speaker:
Hybrid Biofabrication using Nano-, Micro- and Macro-Scale Features
Learning Objectives:
The session will be highly relevant for scientists working in the fields of additive manufacturing, 3D printing and bioprinting/biofabrication, covering both hardware and biomater./bioink developments
Proposed Program:
Directly connected with: Additive Manufacturing (incl. Biofabrication and bioprinting); Biomaterial development; Biomaterials for TE; Key enabling technologies; Tissue and organ models
Proponent 1 / Chair:
Michael Gelinsky
TU Dresden, Centre for Translational Bone, Joint and Soft Tissue Research, Dresden, Germany
Proponent 2 / Co-Chair:
Lorenzo Moroni
Maastricht University, MERLN, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Keynote Speakers (joint keynote):
Paul Dalton
University of Oregon, USA
Marcy Zenobi-Wong
ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Regeneration of the intervertebral disc: the battles that biomaterials will have to win

Keynote Speaker:tba
Learning Objectives:
Biomaterials that mimic the IVD extracellular matrix
Biomaterials that induce rejuvenation of the microenvironment
Biomaterials that control inflammation in IVD
Exploring the pluripotency od resident cells
Proposed Program:
– Inviding talk by a leading biomaterials scientist who combines excellence in biomaterials science with translation of knowledge into industry and the clinics.
– Selected papers that cover the major challenges in IVD regeneration, ranging from biomaterials development to ECM remodeling
Proponent 1 / Co-Chair:
Mário Adolfo Barbosa
University of Porto, ICBAS and i3S, Porto, Portugal
Proponent 2 / Chair:
Mauro Alini
AO Research Institute Davos (ARI), Davos, Switzerland
Keynote Speaker 1:
Abhai Pandit
National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
Keynote Speaker 2:
Marianna Trifonidou
RMCU Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Multidisciplinary Research in Urology Biomaterials and Medical devices. ENIUS network (included in the ESB-SIBB S01- Antimicrobial Biomaterials)

Keynote Speaker:
Urinary stents. Side effects in patients. Why do we need to improve them? Biofilm, Coatings and new stent designs.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this symposium, participants will be able to recognize the current side effects of the urinary stents in patients, as well as, the clinical importance of developing new strategies for the improvement of medical urinary devices, regarding biofilm and encrustation, through coatings and/or new designs.
Proposed Program:
The Symposium is open for the discussion of studies related to urinary tract-related medical device (ureteral stents and bladder catheters), biomaterials or coatings to address biofilm and device encrustations.
Proponent 1 / Chair:
Federico Soria Galvez
European network of multidisciplinary research to improve the urinary stents (ENIUS). COST Actions. CA16217. Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre Foundation., CACERES, Spain
Proponent 2:
Fabíola Costa Moutinho
INEB – Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica/ i3S – Instituto Investigação e inovação em Saúde, Porto, Portugal
Keynote Speaker:
Federico Soria Galvez

Biomaterials: The roadmap towards personalised strategies in musculoskeletal tissue engineering

Title Keynote 1:
Tentative Title: 3D bioprinted skeletal muscle constructs: Printing parameters and outcomes.
Title Keynote 2:
Biomimetic 3D scaffold-based model for in vitro investigation of bone pathologies
Learning Objectives:
Participants will have a comprehensive understanding of the latest advances in musculoskeletal engineering which are underpinning advances at the frontiers of materials, biological and medical science. These include new trends in 3D printing/bioprinting for regenerative medicine and tissue models, combination of 3DP and nanoscale materials, vascularization of 3D constructs.
Proposed Program:
3D Bioprinting has tended to focus on the production of increasingly intricate architectures. However, in achieving this, many concessions are being made regarding the biological aspects of printed materials. Therefore, there is a pressing need for novel engineering approaches to obtain biomimetic inks for future musculoskeletal engineering strategies.
Proponent 1 / Chair:
Dr Maurice N Collins
University of Limerick, School of Engineering and Bernal Institute, Limerick, Ireland
Proponent 2:
Professor Miguel Oliveira
University of Minho, Institute 3Bs, Guimarães, Portugal
Proponent 3 / Chair:
Nicola Baldini
University of Bologna and Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
Proponent 4 / Co-Chair:
Gabriela Graziani
Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
Keynote Speaker 1:
Prof. Dr. Sang Jin Lee
Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine,Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NorthCarolina, USA
Keynote Speaker 2:
Prof. Silvia Faré
Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milan, Italy

Beyond bone and teeth: bioactive glasses in soft tissue regeneration

Title Keynote 1: tba
Title Keynote 2:
Applications of inorganic materials in soft tissue regeneration: progress and challenges
Learning Objectives:
Bioactive glasses represent a revolutionary technology in the healthcare sector. Numerous bioactive glass formulations have found applications to treat bone and dental injuries and, over the years, applications in soft tissue repair and drug delivery have emerged. This symposium is focused on bioactive glass advances based on the controlled release of biologically active ions for applications in soft tissue repair and wound healing, including skin, muscle and nerve tissue regeneration.
Proposed program:
Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini and Prof. Jonathan Massera are well known researchers in the field of bioactive glasses. They will be the keynote speakers in this symposium covering different aspects of the processing and characterisation of bioactive glasses in the field of tissue engineering. They will provide a broad overview of the field, highlighting challenges and opportunities of bioactive glasses in soft tissue regeneration.
Proponent 1 / Keynote Speaker 2:
Aldo R. Boccaccini
Institute of Biomaterrials, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
Proponent 2/ Chair:
Janis Locs
Riga Technical University, Director of Institute of General Chemical Engineering, Riga, Latvia
Proponent 3 / Co-Chair:
Enrica Verne
Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
Proponent 4:
Mauro Alini
Vice-Director AO Research Institute Davos, Focus Area Leader Organ Models, Davos, Switzerland
Keynote Speaker 1:
Jonathan Massera
Tampere University, Finland

Supramolecular Peptide-based Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine

Title Keynote 1:
Exploiting short-peptides self-assembly to design hydrogels for tissue engineering and drug delivery applications ( provisional title)
Titel Keynote 2:
Responsive peptide-based supramolecular biomaterials with tuned degradation rate for regenerative medicine (provisional title)
Proposed Program:
Nature has inspired the rational design and development of supramolecular biomaterials exhibiting sophisticated structures, properties and functions at the nanoscale by controlling the self-assembly of its basic molecular components. This symposium will highlight several examples on the supramolecular design of peptide-based biomaterials displaying tunable features and multifunctionalities for regenerative medicine.
Proponent 1 / Chair:
Prof Aline Miller
Manchester BIOGEL, Mereside, Alderley Park, Alderley Edge, UK
Proponent 2 / Co-Chair:
Dr Jacek Wychowaniec
School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Proponent 3 / Chair:
João Borges
Department of Chemistry, CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Proponent 4:
João F. Mano
Department of Chemistry, CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
Keynote Speaker 1:
Prof. Alberto Saiani
University of Manchester, UK
Keynote Speaker 2:
Dr. Helena Azevedo
School of Engineering and Materials Science & Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK

Smart (nano)biomaterials and their applications

Title Keynote 1:
Shape memory biomaterials and their applications
Title Keynote 2:
Piezoelectric nanoparticles for biomedical applications: From tissue engineering to cancer nanomedicine
Proposed Program:
The symposium aims at introducing the fundamentals and new breakthroughs in the application of smart biomaterials in medicine. Recent advances of smart polymeric materials responsive to electricity, magnetic field, light, etc. will be approached. A particular attention will be moreover devoted to the exploitation of piezoelectric (nano)materials, for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, and for tissue regeneration.
Proponent 1 / Chair / Keynote Speaker 2:
Gianni Ciofani
Italian Institute of Technology, Pontedera, Italy
Proponent 2:
Carlotta Pucci
Italian Institute of Technology, Pontedera, Italy
Proponent 3:
Ying Yang
Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
Proponent 4 / Co-Chair / Keynote Speaker 1:
Jinlian HU
City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China