Keynote

	Thomas J. Webster (USA) - Novel Nano- and Pico-Technology Medical Device Coatings: The Future Is Here
Thomas J. Webster’s (H index 61 according to Google Scholar) degrees are in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh (B.S., 1995) and in biomedical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (M.S., 1997; Ph.D., 2000). He is currently the Department Chair and Professor of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston. His research explores the use of nanotechnology in numerous applications. Specifically, his research addresses the design, synthesis, and evaluation of nanophase materials (that is, materials with fundamental length scales less than 100 nm) as more effective biomedical devices. He has completed extensive studies on the use of nanophase materials to regenerate tissues and has graduated/supervised over 109 visiting faculty, clinical fellows, post-doctoral students, and thesis completing B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. students. To date, his lab group has generated over 9 textbooks, 48 book chapters, 306 invited presentations, at least 403 peer-reviewed literature articles, at least 567 conference presentations, and 32 provisional or full patents. Some of these patents led to the formation of 9 companies. His research on nanomedicine has received attention in recent media publications including MSNBC (October 10, 2005), NBC Nightly News (May 14, 2007), PBS DragonFly TV (covered across the US during the winter, 2008), ABC Nightly News via the Ivanhoe Medical Breakthrough Segment (covered across the US during the winters of 2008 and separate research segments in 2010 and 2011), Fox News (Dec. 18, 2013), and the Weather Channel (March 18, 2014). His work has been on display at the London and Boston Science Museums. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Nanomedicine (the first international journal in nanomedicine which in five years has achieved an impact factor of 4.97), serves on the editorial board of 15 additional journals, has helped to organize 22 conferences emphasizing nanotechnology in medicine, and has organized over 53 symposia at numerous conferences emphasizing biological interactions with nanomaterials. He also recently chaired the 2011 Annual Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Conference and has organized numerous symposia for AIChE, IEEE, MRS and ASME Annual Meetings. He has received numerous honors including, but not limited to: 2002, Biomedical Engineering Society Rita Schaffer Young Investigator Award; 2003, Outstanding Young Investigator Award Purdue University College of Engineering; 2005, American Association of Nanomedicine Young Investigator Award Finalist; 2005, Coulter Foundation Young Investigator Award; 2006, Fellow, American Association of Nanomedicine; 2010, Distinguished Lecturer in Nanomedicine, University of South Florida; 2011, Oustanding Leadership Award for the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES); 2011, Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE, representing the top 2% of all medical and biological engineers); 2013, Fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society; 2014, Fellow, Ernst Strugmann Foundation; and 2014, President-elect, US Society for Biomaterials. Abstract Inspired from biological systems, nanotechnology (and more recently, picotechnology) is beginning to revolutionize medicine including the improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of numerous diseases. This talk will summarize efforts over the past decades that have synthesized novel nanoparticles, nanotubes, and other nanomaterials to improve medicine. Efforts focused on the use of nanomaterials to minimize immune cell interactions, inhibit infection, and increase tissue growth will be especially emphasized. Tissue systems covered will include the nervous system, orthopedics, bladder, cardiovascular, vascular, and the bladder. Materials to be covered will include ceramics, metals, polymers, and composites thereof. Self-assembled nano-chemistries will also be emphasized. Thus, this talk will: Summarize recent advances in novel coatings for medical devices Emphasize novel properties of nano and pico-technology derived coatings, and Identify how such materials can be used to decrease inflammation, infection and improve tissue growth.

Thomas J. Webster (USA) - Novel Nano- and Pico-Technology Medical Device Coatings: The Future Is Here

Thomas J. Webster’s (H index 61 according to Google Scholar) degrees are in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh (B.S., 1995) and in biomedical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (M.S., 1997; Ph.D., 2000). He is currently the Department Chair and Professor of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston. His research explores the use of nanotechnology in numerous applications. Specifically, his research addresses the design, synthesis, and evaluation of nanophase materials (that is, materials with fundamental length scales less than 100 nm) as more effective biomedical devices. He has completed extensive studies on the use of nanophase materials to regenerate tissues and has graduated/supervised over 109 visiting faculty, clinical fellows, post-doctoral students, and thesis completing B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. students. To date, his lab group has generated over 9 textbooks, 48 book chapters, 306 invited presentations, at least 403 peer-reviewed literature articles, at least 567 conference presentations, and 32 provisional or full patents. Some of these patents led to the formation of 9 companies. His research on nanomedicine has received attention in recent media publications including MSNBC (October 10, 2005), NBC Nightly News (May 14, 2007), PBS DragonFly TV (covered across the US during the winter, 2008), ABC Nightly News via the Ivanhoe Medical Breakthrough Segment (covered across the US during the winters of 2008 and separate research segments in 2010 and 2011), Fox News (Dec. 18, 2013), and the Weather Channel (March 18, 2014). His work has been on display at the London and Boston Science Museums. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Nanomedicine (the first international journal in nanomedicine which in five years has achieved an impact factor of 4.97), serves on the editorial board of 15 additional journals, has helped to organize 22 conferences emphasizing nanotechnology in medicine, and has organized over 53 symposia at numerous conferences emphasizing biological interactions with nanomaterials. He also recently chaired the 2011 Annual Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Conference and has organized numerous symposia for AIChE, IEEE, MRS and ASME Annual Meetings. He has received numerous honors including, but not limited to: 2002, Biomedical Engineering Society Rita Schaffer Young Investigator Award; 2003, Outstanding Young Investigator Award Purdue University College of Engineering; 2005, American Association of Nanomedicine Young Investigator Award Finalist; 2005, Coulter Foundation Young Investigator Award; 2006, Fellow, American Association of Nanomedicine; 2010, Distinguished Lecturer in Nanomedicine, University of South Florida; 2011, Oustanding Leadership Award for the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES); 2011, Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE, representing the top 2% of all medical and biological engineers); 2013, Fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society; 2014, Fellow, Ernst Strugmann Foundation; and 2014, President-elect, US Society for Biomaterials.

Abstract

Inspired from biological systems, nanotechnology (and more recently, picotechnology) is beginning to revolutionize medicine including the improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of numerous diseases. This talk will summarize efforts over the past decades that have synthesized novel nanoparticles, nanotubes, and other nanomaterials to improve medicine. Efforts focused on the use of nanomaterials to minimize immune cell interactions, inhibit infection, and increase tissue growth will be especially emphasized. Tissue systems covered will include the nervous system, orthopedics, bladder, cardiovascular, vascular, and the bladder. Materials to be covered will include ceramics, metals, polymers, and composites thereof. Self-assembled nano-chemistries will also be emphasized.

Thus, this talk will:

Summarize recent advances in novel coatings for medical devices
Emphasize novel properties of nano and pico-technology derived coatings, and
Identify how such materials can be used to decrease inflammation, infection and improve tissue growth.

	Luigi Ambrosio (Italy) - Active biomaterials and advanced technologies for skeletal tissue regeneration
Professor Luigi Ambrosio is Director of Chemical Sciences & Materials Technology Department, National Research Council of Italy, and Professor of Biomaterials at University of Naples "Federico II’. Professor Ambrosio’s research interests include design and characterisation of polymers and composites for medical applications and tissue engineering, rheology of biological fluids, structural properties of natural tissue, processing of polymers and composites, hydrogels and biodegradable polymers. He has published over 150 papers on international scientific journals and book, 16 patents, and over 250 presentations at international and national conferences. He has been nominated Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (March 2001), and Fellow of Biomaterials Science and Engineering (May 2004). He is member of Advisory Board and Guest Editor of International and National Scientific Journals, Council Member of the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB), VicePresident of the Italian Society of Biomaterials (SIB), President of the Interdisciplinary Biomaterials Group of the Italian Chemical Society and President of the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB). Dr. Ambrosio received the doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering (1982) from University of Naples "Federico II’. He was Research Associate at University of Naples (1983-1985), Research Associate at University of Connecticut, USA (1985-1986), and Visiting Scientist at Kontron Medical Inc., USA (1985- 1988). Abstract In biomedical applications, the capability of controlling physical and chemical interactions at the level of elementary natural components, from proteins to cells, is necessary to offer a more efficient investigation, manipulation, and application of living systems. Micro or nano-structured polymers in the form of nanoparticles, nano-fibers and nano-composites have gained increasing interest in regenerative medicine because they are able to mimic the physical features of natural extracellular matrix (ECM) at the sub-micro and nano-scale level. By their manipulation via nanotechnologies, they currently represent an interesting tool to reproduce the features of native cell microenvironment which determine tissue specificity and architecture of tissues. In this context, many nano-inspired processes and tools have been recently studied to acquire better knowledge on the natural evolution of healthy or pathological tissues in 3D scaffolds, and to discover new technological solutions to improve conventional strategies in tissue engineering. By a careful selection of materials and processing conditions, they offer the opportunity to finely control characteristic shapes and sizes from micro to sub-micrometric scale and to incorporate biopolymers and bioactive molecules such as proteins or growth factor. Design of different nanostructures are made by electrospinning technique, rapid prototyping and biomineralization process, is proposed to develop active platforms to support the regeneration of different tissues such bone, IVD and nerve.

Luigi Ambrosio (Italy) - Active biomaterials and advanced technologies for skeletal tissue regeneration

Professor Luigi Ambrosio is Director of Chemical Sciences & Materials Technology Department, National Research Council of Italy, and Professor of Biomaterials at University of Naples "Federico II’. Professor Ambrosio’s research interests include design and characterisation of polymers and composites for medical applications and tissue engineering, rheology of biological fluids, structural properties of natural tissue, processing of polymers and composites, hydrogels and biodegradable polymers. He has published over 150 papers on international scientific journals and book, 16 patents, and over 250 presentations at international and national conferences. He has been nominated Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (March 2001), and Fellow of Biomaterials Science and Engineering (May 2004). He is member of Advisory Board and Guest Editor of International and National Scientific Journals, Council Member of the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB), VicePresident of the Italian Society of Biomaterials (SIB), President of the Interdisciplinary Biomaterials Group of the Italian Chemical Society and President of the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB). Dr. Ambrosio received the doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering (1982) from University of Naples "Federico II’. He was Research Associate at University of Naples (1983-1985), Research Associate at University of Connecticut, USA (1985-1986), and Visiting Scientist at Kontron Medical Inc., USA (1985- 1988).

Abstract

In biomedical applications, the capability of controlling physical and chemical interactions at the level of elementary natural components, from proteins to cells, is necessary to offer a more efficient investigation, manipulation, and application of living systems. Micro or nano-structured polymers in the form of nanoparticles, nano-fibers and nano-composites have gained increasing interest in regenerative medicine because they are able to mimic the physical features of natural extracellular matrix (ECM) at the sub-micro and nano-scale level. By their manipulation via nanotechnologies, they currently represent an interesting tool to reproduce the features of native cell microenvironment which determine tissue specificity and architecture of tissues. In this context, many nano-inspired processes and tools have been recently studied to acquire better knowledge on the natural evolution of healthy or pathological tissues in 3D scaffolds, and to discover new technological solutions to improve conventional strategies in tissue engineering. By a careful selection of materials and processing conditions, they offer the opportunity to finely control characteristic shapes and sizes from micro to sub-micrometric scale and to incorporate biopolymers and bioactive molecules such as proteins or growth factor. Design of different nanostructures are made by electrospinning technique, rapid prototyping and biomineralization process, is proposed to develop active platforms to support the regeneration of different tissues such bone, IVD and nerve.

	Guy Daculsi (France) - Calcium phosphate Bioceramics challenges in Bone Regenerative Medicine
Professor Guy Daculsi INSERM Research Director, DRE class exceptional, National Institute Medical Research, Director SC3M Electron Microscopic, Micro imaging and Micro characterization Center Nantes University; FBSE, Fellow Biomaterials Science and Engineering; ISCM General secretary, International Society for Ceramic in Medicine; Chief Editor Bioceramics Development and Applications. Biologist and crystallograph, specialized in biological apatite and calcium phosphate Bioceramics. Main interest in Calcium phosphate based biomaterials and calcified tissue. Clinical research scientific coordinator in Orthopedics, maxillofacial surgery, ENT. More of 430 publications, 398 communications including 84 invited conferences, 11 patents including 8 internationals. International contribution to the field of Bioceramics and Bone substitutes has been recognized by IUSBSE during the 8th World Congress on Biomaterials. A pioneer in Bioceramics for Bone regeneration. Abstract There is a large variety of commercial bioceramic bone substitutes for bone repair and Regenerative Medicine; however, the prerequisites for bone reconstruction and tissue engineering are often absent in research and clinical applications. The main criteria for the use of bioceramics are easily handled biomaterials that are solid, injectable, and/or shapeable. Furthermore, the material must have the appropriate fundamental properties, pre requisite for safe and efficient scaffolds to support regenerative bone application. The main chemical, physical and biological properties described in the literature very often presented numerous mistakes, myths, and contribute for the clinicians (end user) to a large misunderstanding of the properties, of the efficiency or at least only on the definition of the 3 essentials properties for a smart osteoinstructive scaffold:osteoconductivity, osteogenicity and osteoinductivity. New bone regeneration technologies, such as "smart matrices", must be developed and optimized to increase their suitability for bone defects and to support suitable Ortho Biology. This contribution presents the basic smart bone substitutes used for bone regeneration, which will support the 21^st century challenge in osteoarticular pathology to replace autografts with more efficient synthetic materials. The present lecture will be focused on the specifications required for the smart matrix needs of the surgeon, the clinical indications, the regulatory constraints, and product development of a classical bone substitute or scaffolds combined with bioactive factors, such as bone marrow or human mesenchymal stromal cells (h-MSC), for hybrid implantable devices and tissue engineering. Examples will be presented, issued of several Academics or Industrial National and European R&D programs supporting the challenge of Bone regeneration.

Guy Daculsi (France) - Calcium phosphate Bioceramics challenges in Bone Regenerative Medicine

Professor Guy Daculsi

INSERM Research Director, DRE class exceptional, National Institute Medical Research, Director SC3M Electron Microscopic, Micro imaging and Micro characterization Center Nantes University; FBSE, Fellow Biomaterials Science and Engineering; ISCM General secretary, International Society for Ceramic in Medicine; Chief Editor Bioceramics Development and Applications.

Biologist and crystallograph, specialized in biological apatite and calcium phosphate Bioceramics. Main interest in Calcium phosphate based biomaterials and calcified tissue. Clinical research scientific coordinator in Orthopedics, maxillofacial surgery, ENT. More of 430 publications, 398 communications including 84 invited conferences, 11 patents including 8 internationals. International contribution to the field of Bioceramics and Bone substitutes has been recognized by IUSBSE during the 8th World Congress on Biomaterials. A pioneer in Bioceramics for Bone regeneration.

Abstract

There is a large variety of commercial bioceramic bone substitutes for bone repair and Regenerative Medicine; however, the prerequisites for bone reconstruction and tissue engineering are often absent in research and clinical applications. The main criteria for the use of bioceramics are easily handled biomaterials that are solid, injectable, and/or shapeable. Furthermore, the material must have the appropriate fundamental properties, pre requisite for safe and efficient scaffolds to support regenerative bone application. The main chemical, physical and biological properties described in the literature very often presented numerous mistakes, myths, and contribute for the clinicians (end user) to a large misunderstanding of the properties, of the efficiency or at least only on the definition of the 3 essentials properties for a smart osteoinstructive scaffold:osteoconductivity, osteogenicity and osteoinductivity. New bone regeneration technologies, such as "smart matrices", must be developed and optimized to increase their suitability for bone defects and to support suitable Ortho Biology.

This contribution presents the basic smart bone substitutes used for bone regeneration, which will support the 21^st century challenge in osteoarticular pathology to replace autografts with more efficient synthetic materials. The present lecture will be focused on the specifications required for the smart matrix needs of the surgeon, the clinical indications, the regulatory constraints, and product development of a classical bone substitute or scaffolds combined with bioactive factors, such as bone marrow or human mesenchymal stromal cells (h-MSC), for hybrid implantable devices and tissue engineering. Examples will be presented, issued of several Academics or Industrial National and European R&D programs supporting the challenge of Bone regeneration.

	Franco Rustichelli (Italy) - Some Stem Cells Studies in Orthopedics, Neurology and Cardiology by Synchrotron Radiation
Prof. Franco Rustichelli, Polytechnical University of Marches, Ancona, Italy. Education: He studied at Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa and then at the University of Milano, where he got the degree in Physics in November 1962. In 1966 he got the degree of Specializzazione in Ingegneria Nucleare at the University of Bologna. In 1970 he got the "Libera Docenza" in Nuclear Reactor Physics. Experience: From 1962 to 1982 he was research physicist at EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION, at Ispra Research Center. From 1968 to 1982 he carried out researches at the High Flux Reactor of the Institute LaueLangevin (Grenoble), France, by applying neutron scattering to Material Science and Biophysics. Since 1982 he is full Professor of Physics at the University of Ancona (Italy). He has developed a vast experience in fields like material science, biophysics, biomaterials and stem cells research. Editors: Co-editor and co-author of the Book: F.Rustichelli-J.Skrzypek (Editors), "Innovative Technological Materials - Structural Properties by Neutron Scattering, Synchrotron Radiation and Modelling" - Springer (2010) - ISBN 978-3-642-12058-9 Keynote and invited presentation: He presented several keynote and invited presentations at International Conferences, in particular RUSNANOFORUM (2008) and(2009) and especially in the in the fields of Nanotechnology and Stem Cells. Receipt of large-scale competitive fundings: He has taken part to more than 40 EU Projects, in some of them as coordinator or task coordinator, exploiting his experience in experimental investigations using small angle scattering (SANS/SAXS), X-ray synchrotron radiation microtomography and other techniques available at European Large Scale Facilities. Since June 2011 he is the European Coordinator of the COST Action MP1005 "From nano to macro biomaterials (design, processing, characterization, modeling) and applications to stem cells regenerative orthopaedic and dental medicine (NAMABIO)" and since March 2011 he is the European Coordinator of the EU project "Immersion in Scientific Worlds through Arts (ISWA). Current Research Activities: The current research activities are related to material science, biophysics, biomaterials and stem cells research. He published more than 290 papers on international journals in different fields. Since several years he is involved in researchers related to Regenerative Medicine in particular in the field of Bone Tissue Engineering, Muscular Dystrophy and more recently in Cardiology, by Synchrotron Radiation Techniques like X-Ray Computed Microtomography, X-Ray Holotomography (allowing visualization of blood vessels without using contrast agents). Abstract After a brief presentation of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) of Grenoble, the basic principles of X-ray microdiffraction in which use is made of Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) and Small Angle X-ray Scattering SAXS combined with a very high spatial resolution will be presented. By using this technique it was possible to investigate the structure of engineered bones inside a scaffold pore. Another non-destructive investigation method, being able to offer three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions with a very high spatial resolution, is the micro computed tomography (micro-CT). Then a third technique will be presented: the X-ray holotomography, which was used to visualize, at 3D level, microvascular networks for the first time with no need for contrast agents. The X-ray holotomography is an innovative technique that offers a promising powerful tool to investigate angio and microvasculogenesis in advanced biomedical research areas such as regenerative medicine and antiangiogenic cancer therapies. The 3D visualization of human stem cell muscle homing, in the frame of preclinical research related to the muscular dystrophy of Duchenne will be considered. In particular the 3D visualization of human blood derived CD 133+ stem cells, labeled with magnetic nanoparticles, after intra-arterial transplantation in vivo. In this way it was possible to demonstrate the migration of the stem cells trough the arterial circulation into the muscle of dystrophic mice. Another study concerns the visualization of clonogenic cells injected in infracted mice hearts. Finally, a micro-CT study of ischemic mice brains will be presented.

Franco Rustichelli (Italy) - Some Stem Cells Studies in Orthopedics, Neurology and Cardiology by Synchrotron Radiation

Prof. Franco Rustichelli, Polytechnical University of Marches, Ancona, Italy.

Education: He studied at Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa and then at the University of Milano, where he got the degree in Physics in November 1962. In 1966 he got the degree of Specializzazione in Ingegneria Nucleare at the University of Bologna. In 1970 he got the "Libera Docenza" in Nuclear Reactor Physics.

Experience: From 1962 to 1982 he was research physicist at EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION, at Ispra Research Center. From 1968 to 1982 he carried out researches at the High Flux Reactor of the Institute LaueLangevin (Grenoble), France, by applying neutron scattering to Material Science and Biophysics. Since 1982 he is full Professor of Physics at the University of Ancona (Italy). He has developed a vast experience in fields like material science, biophysics, biomaterials and stem cells research.

Editors: Co-editor and co-author of the Book: F.Rustichelli-J.Skrzypek (Editors), "Innovative Technological Materials - Structural Properties by Neutron Scattering, Synchrotron Radiation and Modelling" - Springer (2010) - ISBN 978-3-642-12058-9

Keynote and invited presentation: He presented several keynote and invited presentations at International Conferences, in particular RUSNANOFORUM (2008) and(2009) and especially in the in the fields of Nanotechnology and Stem Cells.

Receipt of large-scale competitive fundings: He has taken part to more than 40 EU Projects, in some of them as coordinator or task coordinator, exploiting his experience in experimental investigations using small angle scattering (SANS/SAXS), X-ray synchrotron radiation microtomography and other techniques available at European Large Scale Facilities. Since June 2011 he is the European Coordinator of the COST Action MP1005 "From nano to macro biomaterials (design, processing, characterization, modeling) and applications to stem cells regenerative orthopaedic and dental medicine (NAMABIO)" and since March 2011 he is the European Coordinator of the EU project "Immersion in Scientific Worlds through Arts (ISWA).

Current Research Activities: The current research activities are related to material science, biophysics, biomaterials and stem cells research. He published more than 290 papers on international journals in different fields. Since several years he is involved in researchers related to Regenerative Medicine in particular in the field of Bone Tissue Engineering, Muscular Dystrophy and more recently in Cardiology, by Synchrotron Radiation Techniques like X-Ray Computed Microtomography, X-Ray Holotomography (allowing visualization of blood vessels without using contrast agents).

Abstract

After a brief presentation of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) of Grenoble, the basic principles of X-ray microdiffraction in which use is made of Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) and Small Angle X-ray Scattering SAXS combined with a very high spatial resolution will be presented. By using this technique it was possible to investigate the structure of engineered bones inside a scaffold pore. Another non-destructive investigation method, being able to offer three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions with a very high spatial resolution, is the micro computed tomography (micro-CT). Then a third technique will be presented: the X-ray holotomography, which was used to visualize, at 3D level, microvascular networks for the first time with no need for contrast agents. The X-ray holotomography is an innovative technique that offers a promising powerful tool to investigate angio and microvasculogenesis in advanced biomedical research areas such as regenerative medicine and antiangiogenic cancer therapies. The 3D visualization of human stem cell muscle homing, in the frame of preclinical research related to the muscular dystrophy of Duchenne will be considered. In particular the 3D visualization of human blood derived CD 133+ stem cells, labeled with magnetic nanoparticles, after intra-arterial transplantation in vivo. In this way it was possible to demonstrate the migration of the stem cells trough the arterial circulation into the muscle of dystrophic mice. Another study concerns the visualization of clonogenic cells injected in infracted mice hearts. Finally, a micro-CT study of ischemic mice brains will be presented.

	Kunio Ishikawa (Japan) - Comparison of hydroxyapatite and carbonate apatite as bone substitutes
Professor at Department of Biomaterials, Kyushu University, Japan Fields of Interest: Biomaterials for the Reconstruction and Regeneration of Bone Defect, Apatite, Calcium Phosphate, Self-setting Cement, Implant Materials. Education:Ph. D., Osaka University of Tokyo, 1990 Membership of Academic Societies: International Association for Dental Research, International Society for Ceramics in Medicine, Nano Biomedical Society, Japanese Society of Ceramics, Japanese Society for Dental Materials and Devices Awards & Honors: Award for Encouragement of Research, Japanese Society for Biomaterials, Japan (1999); Best Presentation Award, Asian BioCeramics (2003); Best Presentation Award, Japanese Society for Dental Materials and Devices (2005); IUMRS Encouragement Award, International Union of Materials Research Society (2008); Best Presentation Award, AUN/SEED-Net (2009). Abstract Although carbonate apatite (CO₃Ap) is the composition of human bone, CO₃Ap can not be sintered because it decompose at high temperature. We have proposed a method to fabricate CO₃Ap block based on a dissolution-precipitation reaction using a calcium carbonate as a precursor. Human bone marrow cells (hBMCs) incubated on CO₃Ap disk demonstrated a much higher expression of osteoblastic markers of differentiation, such as type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin, and osteocalcin, than hBMCs incubated on sintered hydroxyapatite (s-HAp). When osteoclasts were incubated on the surface of CO₃Ap disk, osteoclastic resorption pits were observed, whereas no resorption pits were observed in the case of s-HAp disk. When bone defect was reconstructed with CO₃Ap granules, CO₃Ap granules were replaced to bone with time based on bone remodeling process whereas s-HAp granules kept it structure and were not replaced to bone. These results clearly demonstrated that synthetic CO₃Ap is replaced to bone similar to grafted bone. To accelerate replacement of CO₃Ap granules or block to bone, introduction of the interconnected pore seems to be the key since bone cells can be penetrated inside the CO₃Ap granules or blocks. One method to fabricate porous CO₃Ap was the use of polyurethane foam as porogen. Also, CO₃Ap can be fabricated based on the setting reaction of CO₃Ap granules using acidic calcium phosphate solution. When porous CO₃Ap block was implanted in the bone defect bone tissue was found as early as two weeks post implantation whereas no bone was found inside the dense CO₃Ap at that time. Histological results clearly demonstrated that introduction of the interconnected porous structure is the key for the further improvement of CO₃Ap bone replacement.

Kunio Ishikawa (Japan) - Comparison of hydroxyapatite and carbonate apatite as bone substitutes

Professor at Department of Biomaterials, Kyushu University, Japan

Fields of Interest: Biomaterials for the Reconstruction and Regeneration of Bone Defect, Apatite, Calcium Phosphate, Self-setting Cement, Implant Materials. Education:Ph. D., Osaka University of Tokyo, 1990

Membership of Academic Societies: International Association for Dental Research, International Society for Ceramics in Medicine, Nano Biomedical Society, Japanese Society of Ceramics, Japanese Society for Dental Materials and Devices

Awards & Honors: Award for Encouragement of Research, Japanese Society for Biomaterials, Japan (1999); Best Presentation Award, Asian BioCeramics (2003); Best Presentation Award, Japanese Society for Dental Materials and Devices (2005); IUMRS Encouragement Award, International Union of Materials Research Society (2008); Best Presentation Award, AUN/SEED-Net (2009).

Abstract

Although carbonate apatite (CO₃Ap) is the composition of human bone, CO₃Ap can not be sintered because it decompose at high temperature. We have proposed a method to fabricate CO₃Ap block based on a dissolution-precipitation reaction using a calcium carbonate as a precursor. Human bone marrow cells (hBMCs) incubated on CO₃Ap disk demonstrated a much higher expression of osteoblastic markers of differentiation, such as type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin, and osteocalcin, than hBMCs incubated on sintered hydroxyapatite (s-HAp). When osteoclasts were incubated on the surface of CO₃Ap disk, osteoclastic resorption pits were observed, whereas no resorption pits were observed in the case of s-HAp disk. When bone defect was reconstructed with CO₃Ap granules, CO₃Ap granules were replaced to bone with time based on bone remodeling process whereas s-HAp granules kept it structure and were not replaced to bone. These results clearly demonstrated that synthetic CO₃Ap is replaced to bone similar to grafted bone. To accelerate replacement of CO₃Ap granules or block to bone, introduction of the interconnected pore seems to be the key since bone cells can be penetrated inside the CO₃Ap granules or blocks. One method to fabricate porous CO₃Ap was the use of polyurethane foam as porogen. Also, CO₃Ap can be fabricated based on the setting reaction of CO₃Ap granules using acidic calcium phosphate solution. When porous CO₃Ap block was implanted in the bone defect bone tissue was found as early as two weeks post implantation whereas no bone was found inside the dense CO₃Ap at that time. Histological results clearly demonstrated that introduction of the interconnected porous structure is the key for the further improvement of CO₃Ap bone replacement.

	Serena Best (UK) - Porous scaffolds for hard and soft tissue repair
Serena Best is a Professor of Materials Science and Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge. She co-directs the Cambridge Centre for Medical Materials. She has published around 250 journal papers, books and book chapters and holds 9 patents in the fields of biomaterials and skeletal repair. She is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and also the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. She is an Editor of the Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine and has been invited to act as a specialist on both national and international assessment panels. Abstract Significant advances have been made in the field of biomedical materials over the past 20 years. With the move from tissue repair- to cell-mediated tissue reconstruction and regeneration, there is an increasing need for appropriate scaffolds to deliver these cells to sites of disease or injury. However, it is only relatively recently that the importance of pore structure and morphology have begun to be understood in hard and soft tissue applications. We have investigated the physics behind production of lyophilised porous collagen scaffolds through ice crystal formation. By careful control of the mould design and processing conditions, a range of pore morphologies can be produced ranging from equiaxed to elongated. However, an area that is often overlooked is the when developing scaffolds for cell support and delivery, is the importance of pore interconnectivity. Pore size is an important characteristic of the scaffold – but the connections between these pores are more important still. Scaffold composition is another critical consideration and there is a fine balance required between scaffold “activity” and mechanical performance. In collagen scaffolds in particular, control of the degree of crosslinking is essential to optimise, simultaneously, for both mechanical and biological performance, while in calcium phosphates, ionic substitutions and sintering conditions control behavior at the macro-structural and micro-structural scales. This talk will cover the recent work that has been undertaken to optimise the structure and properties of scaffolds for a range of clinical applications in both hard and soft tissue repair.

Serena Best (UK) - Porous scaffolds for hard and soft tissue repair

Serena Best is a Professor of Materials Science and Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge. She co-directs the Cambridge Centre for Medical Materials. She has published around 250 journal papers, books and book chapters and holds 9 patents in the fields of biomaterials and skeletal repair. She is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and also the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. She is an Editor of the Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine and has been invited to act as a specialist on both national and international assessment panels.

Abstract

Significant advances have been made in the field of biomedical materials over the past 20 years. With the move from tissue repair- to cell-mediated tissue reconstruction and regeneration, there is an increasing need for appropriate scaffolds to deliver these cells to sites of disease or injury. However, it is only relatively recently that the importance of pore structure and morphology have begun to be understood in hard and soft tissue applications. We have investigated the physics behind production of lyophilised porous collagen scaffolds through ice crystal formation. By careful control of the mould design and processing conditions, a range of pore morphologies can be produced ranging from equiaxed to elongated. However, an area that is often overlooked is the when developing scaffolds for cell support and delivery, is the importance of pore interconnectivity. Pore size is an important characteristic of the scaffold – but the connections between these pores are more important still. Scaffold composition is another critical consideration and there is a fine balance required between scaffold “activity” and mechanical performance. In collagen scaffolds in particular, control of the degree of crosslinking is essential to optimise, simultaneously, for both mechanical and biological performance, while in calcium phosphates, ionic substitutions and sintering conditions control behavior at the macro-structural and micro-structural scales. This talk will cover the recent work that has been undertaken to optimise the structure and properties of scaffolds for a range of clinical applications in both hard and soft tissue repair.

	Iulian Antoniac (Romania) - Magnesium based alloys as implant materials for orthopedic applications
Professor Iulian Antoniac is a material scientist and engineer working in the field of biomaterials and medical devices. He is the leader of Biomaterials Group from Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University Polytehnica of Bucharest, Romania and a President of the Romanian Society for Biomaterials (SRB). He has worked at the beginning on biomaterials used for different orthopedic and dental application (such as hip prosthesis, implants for trauma, dental prosthesis, etc.). After several specialization in laboratories from Switzerland, Portugal, France, USA on surface analysis, composite materials, implant design and biomaterials characterizations, his scientific interest spans from the synthesis and characterization of biomaterials and interactions with living tissues, retrieval implant analysis, to the new composite and scaffolds based on nanostructured and biologically inspired biomaterials. His professional and scientific activity comprises: handbooks/textbooks (8) including publication of a book entitled “Biologically Responsive Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering” (Springer, 2012), papers published in SCI journals (50), papers published in the proceedings of international conferences (180), inventions (6), participating in different international or national research projects (76), member of the scientific committee of different meetings (30), president of international conferences (6). He is a member of the International Editorial Board and reviewer for many journals and biomaterial conferences, member of different scientific associations. He has been invited to deliver plenary or keynote lecture to many international conferences. Abstract In last years, it was observed the progress on the development of biodegradable magnesium alloys as potential “smart” implant materials for orthopedic applications. Mg-based alloys as biodegradable implant materials have outstanding advantages over other biodegradable implant materials. Even the extensive applications of Mg-based alloys are still inhibited mainly by their hydrogen release, high degradation rates and consequent loss in mechanical integrity, many research was conducted in order to define a proper chemical composition for biodegradable Mg-based alloys and possibility to improve their properties using microstructural modifications due to the use of different casting techniques and mechanical processing. Also, the researchers looks to find an optimal surface modifications of biodegradable Mg-based alloys in order to modulate the biodegradation properties using different techniques. This review focuses on the following topics: analysis of the performance of currently available Mg-based alloys; the design criteria of biodegradable orthopedic implants; Mg-based alloys development strategy; surface modifications techniques; in vitro and in vivo performances of currently new developed Mg-based alloys. Some practical results obtained related to structural characterization and properties of different Mg-based alloys.

Iulian Antoniac (Romania) - Magnesium based alloys as implant materials for orthopedic applications

Professor Iulian Antoniac is a material scientist and engineer working in the field of biomaterials and medical devices. He is the leader of Biomaterials Group from Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University Polytehnica of Bucharest, Romania and a President of the Romanian Society for Biomaterials (SRB). He has worked at the beginning on biomaterials used for different orthopedic and dental application (such as hip prosthesis, implants for trauma, dental prosthesis, etc.). After several specialization in laboratories from Switzerland, Portugal, France, USA on surface analysis, composite materials, implant design and biomaterials characterizations, his scientific interest spans from the synthesis and characterization of biomaterials and interactions with living tissues, retrieval implant analysis, to the new composite and scaffolds based on nanostructured and biologically inspired biomaterials. His professional and scientific activity comprises: handbooks/textbooks (8) including publication of a book entitled “Biologically Responsive Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering” (Springer, 2012), papers published in SCI journals (50), papers published in the proceedings of international conferences (180), inventions (6), participating in different international or national research projects (76), member of the scientific committee of different meetings (30), president of international conferences (6). He is a member of the International Editorial Board and reviewer for many journals and biomaterial conferences, member of different scientific associations. He has been invited to deliver plenary or keynote lecture to many international conferences.

Abstract

In last years, it was observed the progress on the development of biodegradable magnesium alloys as potential “smart” implant materials for orthopedic applications. Mg-based alloys as biodegradable implant materials have outstanding advantages over other biodegradable implant materials. Even the extensive applications of Mg-based alloys are still inhibited mainly by their hydrogen release, high degradation rates and consequent loss in mechanical integrity, many research was conducted in order to define a proper chemical composition for biodegradable Mg-based alloys and possibility to improve their properties using microstructural modifications due to the use of different casting techniques and mechanical processing. Also, the researchers looks to find an optimal surface modifications of biodegradable Mg-based alloys in order to modulate the biodegradation properties using different techniques. This review focuses on the following topics: analysis of the performance of currently available Mg-based alloys; the design criteria of biodegradable orthopedic implants; Mg-based alloys development strategy; surface modifications techniques; in vitro and in vivo performances of currently new developed Mg-based alloys. Some practical results obtained related to structural characterization and properties of different Mg-based alloys.

	Mauro Alini (Switzerland) - Endogenous cell homing for intervertebral disc regeneration
Mauro Alini graduated in Chemistry from the UniversityofLausanne(Switzerland) in 1983. Since then he has been involved in connective tissue research, starting form his Ph.D. research work, done at the Laboratory of Cellular Pathology inLocarno(Switzerland), which focused on the isolation and characterization of proteoglycans extracted from both normal human mammary gland and carcinomas thereof. In September 1988, he joined the Joint Diseases Laboratory (under Dr. A. R. Poole’s direction) at theShrinersHospitalinMontrealto work on quantitative and qualitative changes in extracellular matrix proteins (particularly proteoglycans and collagens) of the growth plate tissue before and at the time of cartilage matrix calcification during endochondral bone formation. In January 1995, he was appointed as an Assistant Professor at the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery of the McGill University (Chair Prof. M. Aebi) and head of the Biochemistry Unit of the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, working to develop new biological approaches to treating intervertebral disc damage. Since July 2000, he is in charge of the Musculoskeletal Regeneration Program at the AO Research Institute (Davos, Switzerland), focusing on cartilage, bone and intervertebral disc tissue engineering. Since September 2009 is also the Vice-Director of the same Research Institute. Abstract The regenerative activity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)when injected into the intervertebral disc (IVD) may partially rely on their potential to differentiate towards an IVD-like phenotype upon exposure to the appropriate microenvironment. In addition, therapeutic MSCs also release trophic factors that may stimulate the metabolism of disc cells and suppress inflammatory reactions. In spite of these promising perspectives, clinical application of MSCs has certain limitations. Harvesting of autologous MSCs is an invasive procedure, the cell processing is complex, and adverse events may occur, such as cell leakage and osteophyte formation. Recruitment of endogenous progenitor cells is an alternative concept. Using an organ culture model of induced IVD degeneration, we have shown that human MSCs could migrate through the endplate of a bovine disc. Furthermore, the expression of certain chemokine receptors was significantly up-regulated in MSCs cultured with degenerative disc conditioned medium, confirming the responsiveness of the cells to the degenerative environment. The feasibility of MSC recruitment in the disc in vivo wasalso evaluated on a mouse tail model of induced disc degeneration,though only a limited number ofbone-marrow cells were recruited in the disc. The finding that MSCs could migrate through the endplatewas further explored by injecting the chemokine SDF1 into the cavity of a partially nucleotomized disc in organ culture. SDF1 was delivered using a hyaluronan-based thermoreversible injectable hydrogel, which had previously been shown to support disc cell growth, matrix production and MSC differentiation towards the disc-like phenotype. SDF1-releasing hydrogel significantly increased MSC recruitment to the disc, demonstrating the potential of a chemokine delivery system to accelerate cell homing. To identify disc-derived chemotactic factors, the proteomic profile of the conditioned medium of anIVD maintained under induced degenerative settings was analysed. Proteomic analysis revealed CCL5/RANTES and CXCL6 as two main chemotactic factors secreted by the degenerative disc. The presence of CCL5/RANTES and its receptors was also confirmed in histological sections of bovine and human degenerative discs, suggesting that this chemokine plays a role in cell recruitment. In conclusion, there is clear evidence that homing of endogenous regenerative progenitor cells can occur in the disc and can be advanced by chemoattractant delivery systems. Recent studies have described the presence of progenitor cells at different locationsin healthy and degenerative IVDs. Mobilisation, augmentation and activation of these endogenous progenitor cell populations represent attractive targets for future regenerative strategies.

Mauro Alini (Switzerland) - Endogenous cell homing for intervertebral disc regeneration

Mauro Alini graduated in Chemistry from the UniversityofLausanne(Switzerland) in 1983. Since then he has been involved in connective tissue research, starting form his Ph.D. research work, done at the Laboratory of Cellular Pathology inLocarno(Switzerland), which focused on the isolation and characterization of proteoglycans extracted from both normal human mammary gland and carcinomas thereof. In September 1988, he joined the Joint Diseases Laboratory (under Dr. A. R. Poole’s direction) at theShrinersHospitalinMontrealto work on quantitative and qualitative changes in extracellular matrix proteins (particularly proteoglycans and collagens) of the growth plate tissue before and at the time of cartilage matrix calcification during endochondral bone formation. In January 1995, he was appointed as an Assistant Professor at the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery of the McGill University (Chair Prof. M. Aebi) and head of the Biochemistry Unit of the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, working to develop new biological approaches to treating intervertebral disc damage. Since July 2000, he is in charge of the Musculoskeletal Regeneration Program at the AO Research Institute (Davos, Switzerland), focusing on cartilage, bone and intervertebral disc tissue engineering. Since September 2009 is also the Vice-Director of the same Research Institute.

Abstract

The regenerative activity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)when injected into the intervertebral disc (IVD) may partially rely on their potential to differentiate towards an IVD-like phenotype upon exposure to the appropriate microenvironment. In addition, therapeutic MSCs also release trophic factors that may stimulate the metabolism of disc cells and suppress inflammatory reactions. In spite of these promising perspectives, clinical application of MSCs has certain limitations. Harvesting of autologous MSCs is an invasive procedure, the cell processing is complex, and adverse events may occur, such as cell leakage and osteophyte formation. Recruitment of endogenous progenitor cells is an alternative concept. Using an organ culture model of induced IVD degeneration, we have shown that human MSCs could migrate through the endplate of a bovine disc. Furthermore, the expression of certain chemokine receptors was significantly up-regulated in MSCs cultured with degenerative disc conditioned medium, confirming the responsiveness of the cells to the degenerative environment. The feasibility of MSC recruitment in the disc in vivo wasalso evaluated on a mouse tail model of induced disc degeneration,though only a limited number ofbone-marrow cells were recruited in the disc. The finding that MSCs could migrate through the endplatewas further explored by injecting the chemokine SDF1 into the cavity of a partially nucleotomized disc in organ culture. SDF1 was delivered using a hyaluronan-based thermoreversible injectable hydrogel, which had previously been shown to support disc cell growth, matrix production and MSC differentiation towards the disc-like phenotype. SDF1-releasing hydrogel significantly increased MSC recruitment to the disc, demonstrating the potential of a chemokine delivery system to accelerate cell homing. To identify disc-derived chemotactic factors, the proteomic profile of the conditioned medium of anIVD maintained under induced degenerative settings was analysed. Proteomic analysis revealed CCL5/RANTES and CXCL6 as two main chemotactic factors secreted by the degenerative disc. The presence of CCL5/RANTES and its receptors was also confirmed in histological sections of bovine and human degenerative discs, suggesting that this chemokine plays a role in cell recruitment. In conclusion, there is clear evidence that homing of endogenous regenerative progenitor cells can occur in the disc and can be advanced by chemoattractant delivery systems. Recent studies have described the presence of progenitor cells at different locationsin healthy and degenerative IVDs. Mobilisation, augmentation and activation of these endogenous progenitor cell populations represent attractive targets for future regenerative strategies.

	Gultekin Goller (Turkey) - Some Research Studies Relating to Bioceramic Based Composites
Prof. Dr. Gultekin Goller is a materials science professor who graduated from Istanbul Technical University in 1989 with a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering. In 1997, he received his Ph.D. in the field of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from Istanbul Technical University. He attended to the Tribology Group of Cleveland State University in 1995 as a UNIDO fellow. He joined to the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department of ITU in 1999 as an assistant professor. Professor Goller was promoted to associate professor in 2005 and became a full professor in 2010. His professional and scientific activity comprises: papers, which are cited over 700 times, published in science citation index journals (85); papers published in international peer-review periodicals (7); the proceedings of international or national conferences (66); participating in different international or national research projects (47); author of international book chapter (1); member of the scientific committee of different meetings; head of the organizing committee for different international conferences; member of the International Editorial Board of some journals; and reviewer for different journals. Abstract The most commonly accepted definition of ceramic is a refractory, inorganic, and non-metallic material with essential components. Advanced ceramics are utilized at specific applications that demand high performance. Bioceramics, as a subgroup of advanced ceramics, are specifically designed for their use in medicine and dentistry, and utilized for the repair or reconstruction of diseased or damaged parts of human bodies such as soft and hard tissues or organs for any periods of time. Ceramic matrix composites involve ceramic matrices in which, ceramic may form the reinforcement phase, the matrix, or both. Ceramic based composites have been developed to overcome brittleness and lack of mechanical reliability of monolithic ceramics. The reinforcing phase may also affect other properties of bioceramics such as biocompatibility, bone-bonding ability, biodegradation process, and cellular activity, tissue ingrowth, physical, thermal, optical or electrical in addition to the mechanical characteristics.Bioceramic composites can be divided into four groups; bionert, porous, bioactive and biodegradable based on bioceramic and tissue attachment mechanisms. The production of bioceramics and ceramic-matrix biocomposites comprises different steps ranging from raw materials, typically in the powder form to the final ceramic product as follows: powder synthesis, drying, calcination, consolidation, binder-removal process, and sintering.This talk mainly covers the types of bioceramic implant-tissue attachments, powder synthesis, processing methodsfor porous and dense bulk bioceramics and bioceramic based composites production using conventional pressureless sintering and pressure-assisted sintering, mainly focusing on spark plasma sintering and glass and glass-ceramic production with a controlled heat treatment of nucleation and crystallization. Further physical, microstructural and mechanical characterization techniques are discussed including phase, surface and differential thermal analyses. Biological behavior and bioactivity measurements of bioactive hydroxyapatite based composites, machinable glass-ceramics and zirconia toughened alumina composites in in vitro environments such as cell viability and alkaline phosphatase activity assays are also elucidated.

Gultekin Goller (Turkey) - Some Research Studies Relating to Bioceramic Based Composites

Prof. Dr. Gultekin Goller is a materials science professor who graduated from Istanbul Technical University in 1989 with a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering. In 1997, he received his Ph.D. in the field of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from Istanbul Technical University. He attended to the Tribology Group of Cleveland State University in 1995 as a UNIDO fellow. He joined to the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department of ITU in 1999 as an assistant professor. Professor Goller was promoted to associate professor in 2005 and became a full professor in 2010. His professional and scientific activity comprises: papers, which are cited over 700 times, published in science citation index journals (85); papers published in international peer-review periodicals (7); the proceedings of international or national conferences (66); participating in different international or national research projects (47); author of international book chapter (1); member of the scientific committee of different meetings; head of the organizing committee for different international conferences; member of the International Editorial Board of some journals; and reviewer for different journals.

Abstract

The most commonly accepted definition of ceramic is a refractory, inorganic, and non-metallic material with essential components. Advanced ceramics are utilized at specific applications that demand high performance. Bioceramics, as a subgroup of advanced ceramics, are specifically designed for their use in medicine and dentistry, and utilized for the repair or reconstruction of diseased or damaged parts of human bodies such as soft and hard tissues or organs for any periods of time. Ceramic matrix composites involve ceramic matrices in which, ceramic may form the reinforcement phase, the matrix, or both. Ceramic based composites have been developed to overcome brittleness and lack of mechanical reliability of monolithic ceramics. The reinforcing phase may also affect other properties of bioceramics such as biocompatibility, bone-bonding ability, biodegradation process, and cellular activity, tissue ingrowth, physical, thermal, optical or electrical in addition to the mechanical characteristics.Bioceramic composites can be divided into four groups; bionert, porous, bioactive and biodegradable based on bioceramic and tissue attachment mechanisms. The production of bioceramics and ceramic-matrix biocomposites comprises different steps ranging from raw materials, typically in the powder form to the final ceramic product as follows: powder synthesis, drying, calcination, consolidation, binder-removal process, and sintering.This talk mainly covers the types of bioceramic implant-tissue attachments, powder synthesis, processing methodsfor porous and dense bulk bioceramics and bioceramic based composites production using conventional pressureless sintering and pressure-assisted sintering, mainly focusing on spark plasma sintering and glass and glass-ceramic production with a controlled heat treatment of nucleation and crystallization. Further physical, microstructural and mechanical characterization techniques are discussed including phase, surface and differential thermal analyses. Biological behavior and bioactivity measurements of bioactive hydroxyapatite based composites, machinable glass-ceramics and zirconia toughened alumina composites in in vitro environments such as cell viability and alkaline phosphatase activity assays are also elucidated.

	Christian Hellmich (Austria) - Towards computer-aided, rational design of ceramic biomaterials: combining micro-Computed Tomography, nanoindentation, ultrasonic, and micromechanical theory
Dr. Christian Hellmich is Full Professor for Strength of Materials and Computational Mechanics in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien). At this university, he received his engineering degree in 1995, his Ph.D. Degree in 1999, and his Habilitation degree in 2004. Between 2000 and 2002, he was a Max Kade Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His work is strongly focussed on well-validated material and (micro)structural models, both for materials such as concrete, soil, rock, wood, or bone as well as man-made biomaterials, and for structures such as tunnels, pipelines, bridges, or the vertebrate skeleton including implants and tissue engineering scaffolds - with complementary experimental activities if necessary. He has held several leadership positions in projects with the tunnel and pipeline industry, as well as in the interdisciplinary and international material research activities sponsored by the European Commission, including his role as the coordinator of the mixed industry-academia consortium “BIO-CT-EXPLOIT”, merging computer tomography with continuum micromechanics. He has published 100 papers in international refereed scientific journals in the fields of engineering mechanics, materials science, and theoretical biology, 22 book chapters, and more than 100 papers in refereed conference proceedings. Dr. Hellmich has served as the Chairman of both the Properties of Materials Committee of the Engineering Mechanics Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Poromechanics Committee of the Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI), as associate editor of the Journal of Engineering Mechanics (ASCE) and the Journal of Nanomechanics and Micromechanics (ASCE), As community service, he has (co-)chaired and/or supported more than 50 international conferences (including chairmanship of the 2013 EMI-ASCE-supported Biot Conference on Poromechanics) , and reviewed for 101 different scientific journals and 13 science foundations. He was awarded the Kardinal Innitzer Science Award of the Archbishopry of Vienna in 2004 (for his habilitation thesis), the Science Award of the State of Lower Austria in 2005 (for his achievements in the micromechanics of hierarchical composites), and he was the recipient of the 2008 Zienkiewicz Award for Young Scientists in Computational Engineering Sciences, sponsored by the European Community on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences (ECCOMAS). For further activities in the multiscale poro-micromechanics of bone materials, he received one of the highly prestigious ERC Grants of the European Research Council in 2010: and he was elected member the Young Academy of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in 2011. In 2012, he was rewarded the prestigious Walter L. Huber Research Prize of the ASCE, for his contributions to the microporomechanics of hierarchical geomaterials and biomaterials; and he was elected Fellow of EMI in 2014. Abstract Biomaterials have been characterized by an ever increasing collection of highly advanced experimental techniques, while consistent and integrative evaluation of all related test results remains a significant, largely unmet challenge. As a remedy, we here present several recent activities. We start with a new evaluation method (Czenek et al, J Mat Res 29, 2757ff., 2014), which uses the unique linear relationship between gray values and X-ray attenuation coefficients, together with the energy-dependence of the latter, to identify (i) the average x-ray energy used in the CT device, (ii) the X-ray attenuation coefficients, and (iii), via the x-ray attenuation average rule, the intravoxel composition, i.e., the microporosity, which, amongst others, governs the voxel-specific mechanical properties, such as stiffness and strength. The method is realized for six 3D tricalcium phosphate scaffolds, seeded with pre-osteoblastic cells and differentiated for 3, 6, and 8 weeks, respectively. The corresponding voxel-specific microporosities turn out to increase during the culturing period (resulting in reduced elastic properties, as determined from micromechanical considerations), while the overall macroporosity remains constant. As a second example, consistent combination of nanoindentation, ultrasound, and micromechanics theory is shown by example of porous baghdadite (Ca3ZrSi2O9) scaffolds (Kariem et al, Mat Sci Eng 46C, 553ff., 2015). The resulting porosity–stiffness relations further confirm a formerly detected, micromechanically explained, general relationship for a great variety of different polycrystals (Fritsch et al, J Appl Mech 80, 020905-1, 2013), which also allows for estimating the zero-porosity case, i.e. Young modulus and Poisson ratio of pure (dense) baghdadite. These estimates were impressively confirmed by a physically and statistically independent nanoindentation campaign comprising some 1750 indents. Consequently, we can present a remarkably complete picture of porous baghdadite elasticity across a wide range of porosities, and, thanks to the micromechanical understanding, reaching out beyond classical elasticity, towards poroelastic properties, quantifying the effect of pore pressure on the material system behavior. The new methods are expected to further foster the development of a rationally based and computer-aided design of biomaterials and tissue engineering scaffolds.

Christian Hellmich (Austria) - Towards computer-aided, rational design of ceramic biomaterials: combining micro-Computed Tomography, nanoindentation, ultrasonic, and micromechanical theory

Dr. Christian Hellmich is Full Professor for Strength of Materials and Computational Mechanics in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien). At this university, he received his engineering degree in 1995, his Ph.D. Degree in 1999, and his Habilitation degree in 2004. Between 2000 and 2002, he was a Max Kade Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His work is strongly focussed on well-validated material and (micro)structural models, both for materials such as concrete, soil, rock, wood, or bone as well as man-made biomaterials, and for structures such as tunnels, pipelines, bridges, or the vertebrate skeleton including implants and tissue engineering scaffolds - with complementary experimental activities if necessary. He has held several leadership positions in projects with the tunnel and pipeline industry, as well as in the interdisciplinary and international material research activities sponsored by the European Commission, including his role as the coordinator of the mixed industry-academia consortium “BIO-CT-EXPLOIT”, merging computer tomography with continuum micromechanics. He has published 100 papers in international refereed scientific journals in the fields of engineering mechanics, materials science, and theoretical biology, 22 book chapters, and more than 100 papers in refereed conference proceedings. Dr. Hellmich has served as the Chairman of both the Properties of Materials Committee of the Engineering Mechanics Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Poromechanics Committee of the Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI), as associate editor of the Journal of Engineering Mechanics (ASCE) and the Journal of Nanomechanics and Micromechanics (ASCE), As community service, he has (co-)chaired and/or supported more than 50 international conferences (including chairmanship of the 2013 EMI-ASCE-supported Biot Conference on Poromechanics) , and reviewed for 101 different scientific journals and 13 science foundations. He was awarded the Kardinal Innitzer Science Award of the Archbishopry of Vienna in 2004 (for his habilitation thesis), the Science Award of the State of Lower Austria in 2005 (for his achievements in the micromechanics of hierarchical composites), and he was the recipient of the 2008 Zienkiewicz Award for Young Scientists in Computational Engineering Sciences, sponsored by the European Community on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences (ECCOMAS). For further activities in the multiscale poro-micromechanics of bone materials, he received one of the highly prestigious ERC Grants of the European Research Council in 2010: and he was elected member the Young Academy of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in 2011. In 2012, he was rewarded the prestigious Walter L. Huber Research Prize of the ASCE, for his contributions to the microporomechanics of hierarchical geomaterials and biomaterials; and he was elected Fellow of EMI in 2014.

Abstract

Biomaterials have been characterized by an ever increasing collection of highly advanced experimental techniques, while consistent and integrative evaluation of all related test results remains a significant, largely unmet challenge. As a remedy, we here present several recent activities. We start with a new evaluation method (Czenek et al, J Mat Res 29, 2757ff., 2014), which uses the unique linear relationship between gray values and X-ray attenuation coefficients, together with the energy-dependence of the latter, to identify (i) the average x-ray energy used in the CT device, (ii) the X-ray attenuation coefficients, and (iii), via the x-ray attenuation average rule, the intravoxel composition, i.e., the microporosity, which, amongst others, governs the voxel-specific mechanical properties, such as stiffness and strength. The method is realized for six 3D tricalcium phosphate scaffolds, seeded with pre-osteoblastic cells and differentiated for 3, 6, and 8 weeks, respectively. The corresponding voxel-specific microporosities turn out to increase during the culturing period (resulting in reduced elastic properties, as determined from micromechanical considerations), while the overall macroporosity remains constant. As a second example, consistent combination of nanoindentation, ultrasound, and micromechanics theory is shown by example of porous baghdadite (Ca3ZrSi2O9) scaffolds (Kariem et al, Mat Sci Eng 46C, 553ff., 2015). The resulting porosity–stiffness relations further confirm a formerly detected, micromechanically explained, general relationship for a great variety of different polycrystals (Fritsch et al, J Appl Mech 80, 020905-1, 2013), which also allows for estimating the zero-porosity case, i.e. Young modulus and Poisson ratio of pure (dense) baghdadite. These estimates were impressively confirmed by a physically and statistically independent nanoindentation campaign comprising some 1750 indents. Consequently, we can present a remarkably complete picture of porous baghdadite elasticity across a wide range of porosities, and, thanks to the micromechanical understanding, reaching out beyond classical elasticity, towards poroelastic properties, quantifying the effect of pore pressure on the material system behavior. The new methods are expected to further foster the development of a rationally based and computer-aided design of biomaterials and tissue engineering scaffolds.

	Alexandru-Vlad Ciurea (Romania) - Modern Management in Cranioplasty
Alexandru-Vlad CIUREA, Prof. HC., M.D., PhD., MSc. Professor of neurosurgery, Senior neurosurgeon, Founder of the National Center for Excellency in Neurosurgery, Honorary President of the Romanian Society of Neurosurgery, Vice-President of the WFNS Nomminating Committee. Current Status: Head of Neurosurgery and Scientific Director, “Sanador Medical Center” Hospital, Bucharest; Professor of Neurosurgery, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest (1997-...); Head & Chairman Neurosurgical Clinic 1, "Bagdasar-Arseni" Hospital, Bucharest (1997-2013) Professional Affiliations: Journal Neurosurgery (USA), International Advisory Board (2014); Journal World Neurosurgery (USA), Senior Advisors Pannel; Official Invited Lecturer, WFNS Continuous Medical Belem, Para, Brazil; Reelected Vicepresident of Euroacademia Multidisciplinaria Neurotraumatologica (December, Ulm, Germania); Member of Nominating Committee WFNS (Seoul, Korea); Official Member of Education Committee WFNS (Seoul, Korea); Honorary member of the Italian Society for Neurosurgery (Palermo, Italy); Vicepresident of Euroacademia Multidisciplinaria Neurotraumatologica ; Vicepresident Romanian Medical Association; Honorary member of the Bulgarian Society for Neurosurgery; Member of the Romanian Academy of Medical Sciences; Chairman WFNS Nominating Committee (Boston, USA); Vice-President Academia Multidisciplinaria Neurotraumatologica (Cluj-Napoca, Romania); International Member of the Brazilian Academy of Neurosurgery; Member of the Romanian Academy of Scientists; Vice-President ”at large” of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, Morocco; President, The Society of Neuro-Oncology, Romania Publications: Main author of 33 monographs in neurosurgery, neurology, healthcare management and food research; Author to 40 ISI-indexed papers Honours, awards and distinctions: Nominated in the International Advisory Board of Neurosurgery (USA); Visiting Professor – International Neuroscience Institute – Hannover, Germany; Honorary Member of the Italian Society of Neurosurgery; Award of Excellence "Medica Academica” for Lifetime Achievement; Excellency Diploma of the Romanian Medical Association for the “Textbook of Neurosurgery” treatise, vol I and II; Excellency Diploma “Neurovasc” awarded at the International Congress of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Mumbai, India; Honorary Diploma of the Society for the Study of Neuroprotection and Neurorehabilitation (SSNN); Awarded prize for “Innovation in medical teaching” at the National “Healthcare Gala”; Diploma et charta aureus (full member) of the Romanian Academy of Scientists; Diploma of Excellency for Scientific Activity and Publishing in the Bucharest University of Medicine and Pharmacy, granted by the Journal of Medicine and Life, Bucharest; “New ideas regarding the presence of hidden anatomy in Michelangelo’s paintings”, registered with State Office for Inventions an Trademarks, Romania; Inventor’s license for “the unishunt drainage system”, single tube neurosurgical drainage system; an invention widely used in the World for the treatment of hydrocephalus; The National Order for Faithful Service of Romania with the rank of Commodore; a distinction awarded by the President of Romania. 4 Titles of Doctor Honoris Causa(Dunarea de Jos University, School of Medicine, Galați, Romania; N. Testemițanu University School of Medicine, Chisinau, Rep. of Moldova; Petre Andrei University, Iași, Romania; University of Oradea, School of Medicine, Oradea, Romania). Abstract Loss of bone integrity of the calvaria, posttraumatic, secondary to neurosurgical interventions or due to degenerative changes represents a therapeutic challenge, given the need to ensure the protection of brain tissue under suitable aesthetic conditions. Modern technology enables neurosurgeons to understand the three-dimensional anatomy of the skull and defect and allows them to be able to create implants perfectly tailored to the size and shape of the defect without neglecting the volumetry of the skull. A brief presentation of biomaterials available to be used in cranioplasty will be made. One biomaterial with good results in clinical practice is PEEK, which is a semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer with excellent mechanical and chemical resistance that fulfills the most important qualities of an implant: non-immunogenicity, non-oncogenicity, structural resistance, sterility, biological tolerance and an acceptable price range. At surgeon level, the progress of medicine and science has generated a wide array of materials ready-to-use for cranioplasty. A case of skull reconstruction with a 3-D individualized PEEK plate for a posttraumatic skull defect due to a gunshot wound will be presented. The authors advocate for using this kind of alloplastic grafts made by biopolymers when the osseous material of the patient is no longer available.

Alexandru-Vlad Ciurea (Romania) - Modern Management in Cranioplasty

Alexandru-Vlad CIUREA, Prof. HC., M.D., PhD., MSc.

Professor of neurosurgery, Senior neurosurgeon, Founder of the National Center for Excellency in Neurosurgery, Honorary President of the Romanian Society of Neurosurgery, Vice-President of the WFNS Nomminating Committee.

Current Status: Head of Neurosurgery and Scientific Director, “Sanador Medical Center” Hospital, Bucharest; Professor of Neurosurgery, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest (1997-...); Head & Chairman Neurosurgical Clinic 1, "Bagdasar-Arseni" Hospital, Bucharest (1997-2013)

Professional Affiliations: Journal Neurosurgery (USA), International Advisory Board (2014); Journal World Neurosurgery (USA), Senior Advisors Pannel; Official Invited Lecturer, WFNS Continuous Medical Belem, Para, Brazil; Reelected Vicepresident of Euroacademia Multidisciplinaria Neurotraumatologica (December, Ulm, Germania); Member of Nominating Committee WFNS (Seoul, Korea); Official Member of Education Committee WFNS (Seoul, Korea); Honorary member of the Italian Society for Neurosurgery (Palermo, Italy); Vicepresident of Euroacademia Multidisciplinaria Neurotraumatologica ; Vicepresident Romanian Medical Association; Honorary member of the Bulgarian Society for Neurosurgery; Member of the Romanian Academy of Medical Sciences; Chairman WFNS Nominating Committee (Boston, USA); Vice-President Academia Multidisciplinaria Neurotraumatologica (Cluj-Napoca, Romania); International Member of the Brazilian Academy of Neurosurgery; Member of the Romanian Academy of Scientists; Vice-President ”at large” of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, Morocco; President, The Society of Neuro-Oncology, Romania

Publications: Main author of 33 monographs in neurosurgery, neurology, healthcare management and food research; Author to 40 ISI-indexed papers

Honours, awards and distinctions: Nominated in the International Advisory Board of Neurosurgery (USA); Visiting Professor – International Neuroscience Institute – Hannover, Germany; Honorary Member of the Italian Society of Neurosurgery; Award of Excellence "Medica Academica” for Lifetime Achievement; Excellency Diploma of the Romanian Medical Association for the “Textbook of Neurosurgery” treatise, vol I and II; Excellency Diploma “Neurovasc” awarded at the International Congress of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Mumbai, India; Honorary Diploma of the Society for the Study of Neuroprotection and Neurorehabilitation (SSNN); Awarded prize for “Innovation in medical teaching” at the National “Healthcare Gala”; Diploma et charta aureus (full member) of the Romanian Academy of Scientists; Diploma of Excellency for Scientific Activity and Publishing in the Bucharest University of Medicine and Pharmacy, granted by the Journal of Medicine and Life, Bucharest; “New ideas regarding the presence of hidden anatomy in Michelangelo’s paintings”, registered with State Office for Inventions an Trademarks, Romania; Inventor’s license for “the unishunt drainage system”, single tube neurosurgical drainage system; an invention widely used in the World for the treatment of hydrocephalus; The National Order for Faithful Service of Romania with the rank of Commodore; a distinction awarded by the President of Romania.

4 Titles of Doctor Honoris Causa(Dunarea de Jos University, School of Medicine, Galați, Romania; N. Testemițanu University School of Medicine, Chisinau, Rep. of Moldova; Petre Andrei University, Iași, Romania; University of Oradea, School of Medicine, Oradea, Romania).

Abstract

Loss of bone integrity of the calvaria, posttraumatic, secondary to neurosurgical interventions or due to degenerative changes represents a therapeutic challenge, given the need to ensure the protection of brain tissue under suitable aesthetic conditions. Modern technology enables neurosurgeons to understand the three-dimensional anatomy of the skull and defect and allows them to be able to create implants perfectly tailored to the size and shape of the defect without neglecting the volumetry of the skull. A brief presentation of biomaterials available to be used in cranioplasty will be made. One biomaterial with good results in clinical practice is PEEK, which is a semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer with excellent mechanical and chemical resistance that fulfills the most important qualities of an implant: non-immunogenicity, non-oncogenicity, structural resistance, sterility, biological tolerance and an acceptable price range. At surgeon level, the progress of medicine and science has generated a wide array of materials ready-to-use for cranioplasty. A case of skull reconstruction with a 3-D individualized PEEK plate for a posttraumatic skull defect due to a gunshot wound will be presented. The authors advocate for using this kind of alloplastic grafts made by biopolymers when the osseous material of the patient is no longer available.

	Adrian Manescu (Italy) - High resolution x-ray micro computed tomography and holotomographyas3D non-invasive characterization methods for biomaterials andregenerative medicine applications in the fields of orthopedics and dentistry
Adrian Manescu - Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona (Italy) Having a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics, he is Teaching professor and Post-doc researcher in the group of Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of the Odontostomatology and Specialized Clinical Sciences Department, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona (Italy). He has a large experience in non-destructive investigation of materials and biomaterials using X-ray or neutron scattering. In the last years, his scientific activity has been focused on studying, through advanced physical techniques (such as microtomography, holotomography), based on X-ray synchrotron radiation, structural changes of various biomaterials and biological tissues, especially in-vitro, ex-vivo and in-vivo characterization of biomedical interest constructs, based on the use of stem cells. Recently, he performed different experimentsalso in the field of stem cell regenerative dentistry. He is author of many 30 articles in international peer-reviewed journals and has 4 contributions in international spread books. Abstract X-ray computed micro tomography (micro-CT) allows an easy 3D reconstruction of the imaged specimens, together with a complete morphological analysis, offering the possibility to perform in-vivo, ex-vivo or in-vitro experiments. Desktop micro-CT are becoming widely available nowadays and are very useful for many biomaterials and stem cells applications. However, the use of X-rays delivered by Synchrotron Facilities has several advantages compared to X-rays produced by Laboratory sources. It includes the possibility to take advantage of the high photon flux, which guarantees the achievement of high spatial resolution with a good signal-to-noise ratio. Furthermore, the Synchrotron-produced X-ray beam is tuneable, thus allowing to perform measurements at different energies. Since the first CT scanners for medical applications operating in the orthopaedics field, absorption imaging was conducted with almost no distance between sample and detector. For certain applications, the imaging quality can be enhanced through the use of phase contrast tomography (PCT) with an increased distance between sample and detector. The phase shift cross section is three orders of magnitude larger than the absorption cross section for materials with low atomic number, which is an indication that PCT is more sensitive to density variation than absorption-based X-ray imaging. Additionally, whereas PCT is based on a single distance between the detector and the sample, the holotomography (HT) involves imaging at several distances and then combining the phase shift information to produce 3D reconstructions, allowing the simultaneous imaging of both hard and non-mineralized tissues. The use of the above mentioned techniques for the microstructural investigation of several biomaterials and regenerative medicine applications in the fields of orthopaedics and dentistry, involving also stem cells, will be presented during the lecture, from simple toothor boneimagining and newly formed bone analysis, to complex applications, such as blood vessels visualization inside different types of scaffolds.

Adrian Manescu (Italy) - High resolution x-ray micro computed tomography and holotomographyas3D non-invasive characterization methods for biomaterials andregenerative medicine applications in the fields of orthopedics and dentistry

Adrian Manescu - Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona (Italy)

Having a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics, he is Teaching professor and Post-doc researcher in the group of Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of the Odontostomatology and Specialized Clinical Sciences Department, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona (Italy). He has a large experience in non-destructive investigation of materials and biomaterials using X-ray or neutron scattering. In the last years, his scientific activity has been focused on studying, through advanced physical techniques (such as microtomography, holotomography), based on X-ray synchrotron radiation, structural changes of various biomaterials and biological tissues, especially in-vitro, ex-vivo and in-vivo characterization of biomedical interest constructs, based on the use of stem cells. Recently, he performed different experimentsalso in the field of stem cell regenerative dentistry. He is author of many 30 articles in international peer-reviewed journals and has 4 contributions in international spread books.

Abstract

X-ray computed micro tomography (micro-CT) allows an easy 3D reconstruction of the imaged specimens, together with a complete morphological analysis, offering the possibility to perform in-vivo, ex-vivo or in-vitro experiments. Desktop micro-CT are becoming widely available nowadays and are very useful for many biomaterials and stem cells applications. However, the use of X-rays delivered by Synchrotron Facilities has several advantages compared to X-rays produced by Laboratory sources. It includes the possibility to take advantage of the high photon flux, which guarantees the achievement of high spatial resolution with a good signal-to-noise ratio. Furthermore, the Synchrotron-produced X-ray beam is tuneable, thus allowing to perform measurements at different energies. Since the first CT scanners for medical applications operating in the orthopaedics field, absorption imaging was conducted with almost no distance between sample and detector. For certain applications, the imaging quality can be enhanced through the use of phase contrast tomography (PCT) with an increased distance between sample and detector. The phase shift cross section is three orders of magnitude larger than the absorption cross section for materials with low atomic number, which is an indication that PCT is more sensitive to density variation than absorption-based X-ray imaging. Additionally, whereas PCT is based on a single distance between the detector and the sample, the holotomography (HT) involves imaging at several distances and then combining the phase shift information to produce 3D reconstructions, allowing the simultaneous imaging of both hard and non-mineralized tissues. The use of the above mentioned techniques for the microstructural investigation of several biomaterials and regenerative medicine applications in the fields of orthopaedics and dentistry, involving also stem cells, will be presented during the lecture, from simple toothor boneimagining and newly formed bone analysis, to complex applications, such as blood vessels visualization inside different types of scaffolds.