Functional Materials for Life

porous bioceramics sample
Biomaterials

Research Focus  |  Biomaterials

We work at the interface of materials chemistry and biomedical engineering. The synergy between these areas is remarkable and allows us to identify what is missing from a bioengineer’s toolbox and dive into fundamental materials design to create the tools necessary to meet societal needs. Polymer scientists create and provide access to novel functional materials and 3-D structures, while engineers translate these materials into therapies and devices that address key challenges in the clinic. Few campuses in the world encompass the broad range of fundamental discovery in chemistry to clinical application of materials to improve human health.

Major problems we are trying to solve:

  • Regeneration of injured and diseased tissues: by designing injectable protein and cell delivery vehicles that respond to the body’s natural healing response.
  • Minimally invasive drug delivery and recording: by 3-D printing implants with complex, micron-scale features that influence how implanted materials interact with the body.
  • Wearable materials for health monitoring and diagnostics: with shape-memory polymers and flexible electronics that can measure a variety of health metrics.
  • Implantable microsystems for human augmentation and cognitive enhancement: by engineering novel electrode materials that enable seamless integration of microelectronics and the nervous system.
  • Sensing and manipulation of biomolecules and biomechanics: by designing small molecules that detect and release biomolecules and wireless sensors that provide real-time force monitoring.

Participating Research Groups

 

Bioengineering Program Faculty — Biomaterials

 

EXPLORE OUR BIOENGINEERING RESEARCH GROUPS

 


UO Collaborators

Benjamín Alemán 
Department of Physics 
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Shannon Boettcher 
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 
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Carl Brozek 
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 
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Eric Corwin 
Department of Physics 
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Brian Dalton 
Department of Physiology 
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Vickie DeRose 
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 
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Michael Haley 
Department of Physiology 
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Ramesh Jasti 
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 
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Darren Johnson 
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 
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Ben McMorran 
Department of Physics 
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Raghuveer Parthasarathy 
Department of Physics 
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Mike Pluth 
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 
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Richard Taylor 
Department of Physics 
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