Biomaterials 2006 — International Symposium — Essen, September 5–8, 2006

Abstract

AbstractIn the international symposium „Biomaterials 2006”︁ the German Society of Biomaterials (DGBM), the organizers of the XIXth „Aachen Colloquium on Biomaterials”︁ and the organizers of the 9th „International Essen Symposium on Biomaterials and Biomechanics: Fundamentals and Clinical Applications”︁ pooled forces thus bundling the potentials of the state of North Rhine‐Westphalia in the area of biomaterials to a nationwide and international initiative.Biomaterial development is the motor of progress in implantology. In the past decades, where bulk behaviour, biocompatibility, stability and texturing of biomaterials were key areas of research and progress, one may speak of the era of „dumb materials”︁. At the turn of the century the concept, that the future of implants lies in their surface, gained acceptance and with that the evolution of „smart biomaterials”︁ (Anderson et al. 2004) began. Biocoating and functionalization of surfaces were developed with the aim of the surface directing the specific behaviour of contacting tissue cells and/or attracting precursor cells by the release of chemotactic substances. Today new functionalities are emerging such as responsive or on‐demand surfaces, allowing an on‐and‐off switching. A new focus was put on areas which have been little noticed such as ischemia and reperfusion damage due to the implantation process. Similarly nano and micro particles either therapeutically applied as delivery devices or due to wear and causing adverse reactions were discussed.„Biomaterials 2006”︁ was an exceptional, very successful meeting with scientists from 18 countries and 140 submitted abstracts and presentations (see Jennissen, H.P. (2006) BIOmaterialien 7, 107–254) from nearly every facet of biomaterials. The present volume represents a selection of 14 key papers from the meeting which give a fine impression of the trends experienced at „Biomaterials 2006”︁ and the developments to come.