Biomaterials and Surgical Reconstruction

Our internationally renowned Centre for Biomaterials in Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration (CBSRR) develops innovative materials and devices that address real medical needs.

Aimee Cheesbrough awarded 'Outstanding Thesis' Prize

Aimee Cheesbrough, co-supervised by Prof. Wenhui Song and funded by a BBSRC-LIDo PhD studentship, has received the accolade from Kings College London.

Can we grow artificial tissues and organs in the lab?

Watch Professor Wenhui Song’s public lecture to learn about the latest advances and challenges in growing synthetic tissues and organs for regenerative medicine and surgical treatments.

Nanomedicine: from cancer to COVID-19

Watch Professor Gavin Jell’s public lecture to learn about the latest advances and challenges in nanomedicine for treatments of cancer to COVID-19.

Nature Podcast: The vest that can hear your heartbeat

Prof. Wenhui Song and Prof. Yoel Frink (MIT) are interviewed for the Nature Podcast (16 March 2022), discussing a fabric microphone that can pick up human speech.

Our work

As a multidisciplinary team of academics (cell biologists, chemists, engineers and material scientists) and clinicians, we deliver new knowledge, inventions and clinical solutions by innovating new biomaterials, scaffolds, nanomedicine and devices.

Our strengths

Fundamental understanding

Correlation of structure and properties of biomaterials at multiple scales
Self-assembling behaviour of nanoparticles and macromolecules
Interface between biomaterials and cells / tissues.

Innovations

Synthesis and characterisation of novel polymers, bioglass / ceramics, polymer composites, nanomaterials, and nanocomposites.
Design, manufacture and characterisation of multifunctional implants and scaffolds for tissue construction and regeneration, assisted drug discovery & delivery, biosensors and devices.
Design, manufacturing and characterisation of nano-vehicles and 3D models for drug discovery and delivery with controlled release
Biofunctionalization and modifying the physicochemical properties of materials to direct desirable biological interactions and guide the fate of cells / stem cells.

Clinical translation

Preclinical assessments of cell therapy, nanomedicine, implants and devices.
Clinical trials of implants and devices.

Our research areas include

Design and syntheses of novel biomaterials

Functional elastomers and nanocomposites
Degradable natural and synthetic hydrogels
Bioactive bioglass and bioceramics
Multi-functional nanoparticles, nanocomplex and nanofibres.

Tissue engineering for tissue regeneration and drug discovery

Design and fabrication of scaffolds for both soft and hard tissue regeneration including bone, breast, cartilage, cornea, heart valve, maxillofacial, muscle, nerves, tendon, skin, hair follicle, vascular vessels etc
3D tissue / disease models for drug discovery and high-throughput drug screening.

Understanding the biomaterial - biological interface

Regulation and direction cell / stem cell fate by ECM and ECM-mimics at multiple scales
Dynamic microenvironment and responsive scaffolds for guiding cell/stem cell niche.

Nanomaterials and scaffolds for targeted drug delivery with controlled release

Regulation and direction cell / stem cell fate by ECM and ECM-mimics at multiple scales
Dynamic microenvironment and responsive scaffolds for guiding cell/stem cell niche.

Biomanufacturing

3D printing scaffolds for both soft and hard tissue regeneration
3D bioprinting cell-laden synthetic tissues/organs
Electrospun nano-fibrous scaffolds for tissue regeneration
Acoustic atomiser for surface coating of implants and scaffolds
Design and production of nanoparticles
Development of novel bio-fabrication techniques and processes: 3D rotational printer, electrospinning and coagulation extrusion.

Implantable biosensors, electronics and devices

Piezoelectric nanofibre-based acoustic biosensors for cochlea implants
Implantable electrochemical biosensors
Soft stents and robotics for respiratory devices
Stimuli-responsive soft actuators and robotics
3D printed personalised devices for surgical reconstruction and assisted cell therapy.

Our facilities

We have state-of-the-art facilities for synthesis, process, and physico-chemical and biological characterisation and imaging. These include an imaging suite containing TEM, SEM, AFM, confocal and 3D digital microscopy, a polymer chemistry laboratory and biomanufacturing laboratory equipped with commercial and custom-made 3D printers and bioprinters, electrospinning / electro-spraying equipment, and vascular graft coagulation extrusion housed within a GMP/GLP environment.

Imaging facilities and equipment

FESEM with EDX
TEM
confocal microscope
fluorescent microscope
3D digital light microscope
AFM-PFM

Physico-chemical characterisation equipment

FTIR
UV-Vis
dynamic light scattering particle size analyser
contact angle measurement
mechanical test machine
rheometer
laser vibrometer

Bio-manufacturing facilities

3D printers (FDM, SLA and DLP)
3D bioprinters (micro-extruders and DLP)
electrospinning system
coagulation extrusion
acoustic atomiser coating
laser cutter

Access our facilities

Centre for Biomaterials in Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration (CBSRR)

Academic staff

Head: Prof. Wenhui Song
Professor of Biomaterials & Medical Engineering

Deputy Head: Prof. Janice Tsui
Professor of Vascular Surgery

Prof. Gavin Jell
Head of Education, Professor of Nanotechnology

Dr Hirak Patra
Associate Professor of Nanotechnology

Prof. George Hamilton
Professor of Vascular Surgery

Prof. Peter Butler
Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Prof. Afshin (Ash) Mosahebi
Professor of Plastic Surgery

Prof. Kaveh Shakib
Associate Professor, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Research fellows and assistants

Dr Jinke Chang

Dr Alexandru Chivu

Dr Xia Huang

Dr Azadeh Razaei

Dr Lei Wu

Mr Thomas Lester

Honorary staff

Mr Daryll Baker

Dr Michelle Griffin

Mr Chung Lim

Miss Nima Naderi

Dr Shao-An Xue

Prof. Xuetong Zhang
Royal Society Newton Advanced Fellow

Concept image of an experimenting scientist with a molecule construction overlaid

Funding / Partnerships

There are several on-going projects in different stages of clinical and preclinical studies. These include cardiovascular grafts and stents, soft tubular organs, muscle, artificial cornea, cartilage and bone tissue engineering, chronic wound healing materials, artificial cochlea, breast implants, maxillofacial implants and light responsive soft robotics.

Funding is provided by the EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC, Royal Society, Wellcome Trust, Bone Cancer Research Trust, Osteoarthritis UK, British Heart Foundation, Royal Free Charity and industry.