KEYNOTE SPEAKER

From tissue engineering to implants to in situ sensors: Applications of nanotechnology in Biomedical Engineering

Prof. Thomas Webster
Northeastern University, USA

Abstract

Nanotechnology is being used in many aspects of biomedical engineering to improve disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Specifically, nanotechnology is being used to mimic structural components of tissues in synthetic materials intended for various implant applications. Recent studies have highlighted that when compared to flat or micron rough surfaces, surfaces with nanofeatures promote optimal initial protein interactions necessary to mediate cell adhesion and subsequent tissue regrowth. This has been demonstrated for a wide range of implant chemistries (from ceramics to metals to polymers) and for a wide range of tissues (including bone, vascular, cartilage, bladder, skin, and the central and peripheral nervous system). Importantly, these results have been seen at the in vitro and in vivo level, in fact, the FDA has approved some of these materials for human clinical trials. Nanotechnology is also being used to develop sensors that can be placed on implant surfaces for determining and controlling cellular events to ensure implant success. This talk will cover some of the more significant advancements in creating better sensors for vascular, cardiovascular, and orthopedic implants through nanotechnology efforts. It will also cover some of the more significant advancements in creating better vascular, cardiovascular, and orthopedic implants through nanotechnology efforts. Lastly, this talk will also address recent concerns of nanoparticle toxicity and the role industry has played in nanomedicine to date.

Biography of the Keynote Speaker

Dr. Thomas J. Webster’s 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.