Brilliant idea – Biological coating for implants

Fraunhofer IGB News /

Improving the long-term stability and integration of medically engineered implants into their surrounding tissue by equipping them with a biological coating was the concept presented by IGVP PhD student Mara Ruff in the “ideaTrophy 2014” competition sponsored by the company Freudenberg, which was chosen in December 2014 as one of two winning ideas.

The biological coating in question consists of an extracellular matrix formed by human cells grown in the laboratory. The scientists introduced a small reactive molecule to gain a long-term stable connection between this extracellular matrix and the implant, leading to a tissue-specific biological surface which enhances implant ingrowth.