Plenary invited speakers
For the first time, we have conceived this session involving clinicians and material scientists on the same podium. Here, highly reputed clinicians will describe relevant clinical needs in the field of Cardiovascular Surgery and Interventional Cardiology, Orthopedic and Traumatology, Neurosurgery, General Surgery and Dentistry, and will pass the baton to biomaterial experts and material scientists to discuss about effective approaches and promising solutions.
Nicholas A. Peppas
Nicholas A. Peppas is a professor in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Pediatrics, Surgery and Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin. His group has developed new drug delivery systems for oral, buccal, sublingual and gastrointestinal delivery of drugs, peptides and proteins. 1,700 publications, IF of H=192 (173,000 citations). Numerous US patents have been issued or pending, and 3 start-up companies are active. Research in biomaterials, drug delivery, and bionanotechnology blends modern molecular and cellular biology with engineering principles to design next-generation medicines and devices. Awards include the NAE Founders Award, NAM Adam Yarmolinsky Award, the AAPS Global Leader and Distinguished Pharmaceutical Scientist Awards. Peppas is a member of seventeen Academies including NAE, NAM, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Inventors, Academia Europaea, International Academy of BME, Canadian Academy of Engineering, Indian National Academy of Engineering, Chinese Academy of Engineering, Korean Academy of Science and Technology, National Academy of France, Royal Academy of Spain, Academy of Athens, Greece, & Academy of Texas. He is the Editor-in-Chief of “Regenerative Biomaterials” (Oxford). He holds a Dipl. Eng. from NTU of Athens (1971), a Sc.D. from MIT (1973) and is the recipient of thirteen honorary doctorates and professorship. In May 2022, USA recognized him with the Ellis Island Gold Medal of Honor.
The Future of Intelligent Biomaterials. Novel Approaches to Design of Advanced Materials and to the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases and Cancer
Nicholas A Peppas
University of Texas at Austin, USA
Engineering the molecular design of intelligent biomaterials by controlling structure, recognition and specificity is the first step in coordinating and duplicating complex biological and physiological processes. Recent developments in siRNA and protein delivery have been directed towards the preparation of targeted formulations for protein delivery to specific sites, use of environmentally-responsive polymers to achieve pH- or temperature-triggered delivery, usually in modulated mode, and improvement of the behavior of their mucoadhesive behavior and cell recognition. We address design and synthesis characteristics of novel crosslinked networks capable of protein release as well as artificial molecular structures capable of specific molecular recognition of biological molecules. Molecular imprinting and microimprinting techniques, which create stereo-specific three-dimensional binding cavities based on a biological compound of interest, can lead to preparation of biomimetic materials for intelligent drug delivery, drug targeting, and tissue engineering. We have been successful in synthesizing novel glucose- and protein-binding molecules based on non-covalent directed interactions formed via molecular imprinting techniques within aqueous media. We have also developed structurally superior materials to serve as effective carriers for siRNA delivery to combat Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis.
Joachim Kohn
Joachim Kohn, PhD, FBSE is a national leader in the field of biomaterials science. As founding director of the New Jersey Center for Biomaterials (NJCBM) for 22 years and as Head of the Laboratory for Biomaterials Research at Rutgers, Prof. Kohn has made seminal contributions to the design and commercialization of new biomaterials for regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and drug delivery. He pioneered the use of combinatorial and computational methods for the optimization of polymer properties for use in medical implants (including a coronary stent and an antimicrobial device to prevent infections in pacemaker patients). These implants are being used by about one million patients and are currently approved in 46 countries. As a translational scientist, Prof Kohn has 80 issued US Patents on novel biomaterials and seven companies have licensed his technologies. He is the scientific founder of three spin-off companies. Dr Kohn retired from Rutgers in 2020 and remains active in research, entrepreneurship and the biomaterials community. He was elected President of the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering for a 4-year term ending in 2024.
Selected Recent Honors and Awards
2022 Recipient of the International Award by the European Society for Biomaterials
2020 Recipient of the National Award in Applied Polymer Science by the American Chemical Society.
2019 Recipient of the 2019 Society for Biomaterials Founders Award for life-time achievements in biomaterials science.
2018 Recipient of the 2018 Healthcare Heroes Award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of biomaterials-based therapies.
2017 Recipient of the 2017 Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award for best patent in biomaterials in New Jersey presented by the Research and Development Council of New Jersey.
Research opportunities for biomaterials science in support of global health
Joachim KOHN, PhD, FBSE
Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Rutgers University
President, International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering (IUS-BSE)
This presentation is based in part on a 2020 review published in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research (2020;108:1974–1990.) This review, prepared during one of the darkest periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted shortcomings in our ability to mitigate transmission of infectious viral disease and to provide antiviral treatments to patients. COVID-19 illustrated that the biomaterials community was focusing on research efforts against bacteria and fungi with relatively little effort devoted to viruses. Beyond the current pandemic, important research opportunities for biomaterials science relate to the reduction of environmental plastic waste due to personal protective equipment, advanced materials for diagnostics, virus-deactivating surface coatings, and innovative strategies for the targeted delivery of antiviral agents to specific organs and tissues. In addition to viral pandemics, possible threats to global health may be related to bacteria resistant to antibiotics, environmental contamination by polymeric microparticles, and the impact of climate change. In all of these areas, biomaterials research can make important contributions.
James C. Kirkpatrick
Prof. James C. Kirkpatrick has a triple doctorate in science and medicine (MD, PhD, DSc) from the Queen‘s University of Belfast (N. Ireland) and since 1993 is Professor of Pathology and Chairman of the Institute of Pathology at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany. Previous academic appointments were in pathology at the University of Ulm (1980-1985), Manchester University, UK (1985-1987) and the RWTH Aachen (1987-1993). He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath), London (since 1997) and an Honorary Professor at the Peking Union Medical College in Beijing and the Sichuan University in Chengdu, China (both since 2004). C. James Kirkpatrick is author/coauthor of 430 publications in peer-reviewed journals, and more than 1200 presentations to scientific meetings worldwide. He is a former President of both the German Society for Biomaterials (2001-2005) and the European Society for Biomaterials (2002-2007), and from the latter he received in 2008 the George Winter Award for his contribution to biomaterials in Europe. In 2010 he was awarded the Chapman Medal from the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining, London, UK for ―distinguished research in the field of biomedical materials‖. He is Visiting Professor at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore since 2012, and in 2013 he was made Visiting Professor of Biomaterials & Regenerative Medicine at the Sahlgrenska Academy of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. In 2014 he received the Career Achievement Award of TERMIS-EU.
A career in biomaterials research: an academic perspective
Charles James Kirkpatrick1,2,3
1 Emeritus Professor of Pathology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
2 Former Senior & Distinguished Professor, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
3 Distinguished Visiting Fellow, St. John’s College, Cambridge University, UK
Of all fields of scientific endeavour modern biomaterial science offers the highest imaginable level of multidisciplinarity, covering topics as diverse as polymer chemistry, systems biology, ceramics, biomechanics, medical ethics, immunology, process engineering, nanotechnology and every conceivable branch of basic as well as clinical medicine. In the past two decades the fields of Tissue Engineering (TE) and Regenerative Medicine (RegMed) have received important input from advances both in the life sciences and in the biomaterial sciences, including new developments in stem cell biology, composite materials and interactive polymer systems. Despite sophisticated testing systems in complex co-cultures and various animal models, the decisive test of a biomaterial is the reaction in the human body. Thus, data from implant registers and histopathological studies on tissue-biomaterial interactions are invaluable for the further development and optimisation of existing biomaterials.
With these considerations in mind it becomes evident that a career in biomaterials research can be approached from numerous and extremely varied professions. “Multidisciplinarity” is thus an integral part of biomaterials research. That, however, is no guarantee of success, this only being realized by “interdisciplinarity”. Put in different terms, multidisciplinarity describes a status quo, whereas interdisciplinarity is a proactive attitude, entailing learning the language of other scientific disciplines (communication), developing a new mind set and learning new skills. All these factors must find their place in the degree courses offered for training in biomaterials.
In addition, it is essential to acquire both individual and team skills. The former include topics such as the pursuit of excellence, perseverance and creativity, as well as the overriding aspect of integrity. Among the team skills are communication, non-confrontational problem-solving, reliability and colleagueship. For those with leadership functions some facilitators of creativity will also be addressed.
R. Geoff Richards
Professor Richards has worked at the AO Research Institute in Davos, Switzerland since 1991. Since 2009 he has been the director with 150 multidisciplinary scientists who undertake cutting-edge research in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, biomaterials and implant science. The research contributes to the AO Foundation’s educational courses dedicated to promoting excellence in patient care in musculoskeletal disorders and trauma where over 60,000 surgeons attend over 900 such educational events globally each year. He is a member of AO Executive Committee and since 2020 Executive Director of all international AO Research & Development.
He is author on over 230 peer reviewed research articles. His research work on titanium implant interfaces in trauma has translated to major improvements in the design and manufacture of fracture fixation devices.
In 1999 he co-founded eCM journal, arguably the first online only, open access journal in the world, a pioneer in open access publishing. This concept disrupted the publishing field in science, which is now standard practice.
He has several fellowships, FLSW, FBSE, FIOR, FORS, FTERM. He has a lifetime Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany along with honorary professorships at Cardiff University, Wales (UK) and at the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou (CN).
Current Scientific & Board Appointments
2022-2024 Chair of International Fellows of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (FTERM)
Nov 2021 Past President TERMIS Global (Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society) & chair of the Nominating Committee.
2019-2022 Past Chair of the International College of Fellows for Orthopaedic Research.
2021 President (2015-2021 Vice President) Science City Davos & Executive Committee of Science City Davos (since 2013).
2013> Member of the International Combined Orthopaedic Research Societies (ICORS) Steering Committee.
AO: A model for translation of science to the clinics – AO Fracture monitor, Biphasic Plate and beyond.
Presenter: Prof RG Richards, Director.
Affiliation AO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland
The AO Research Institute Davos has the right conditions to promote success in translation of scientific results into procedures and devices to help the surgeon to treat the patient:
(1) Multidisciplinary, diverse highly motivated and focused research team in one location.
(2) Accreditation of research and development processes, facility and animal care.
(3) Strong world-wide surgeon network for clinical guidance.
(4) A central clinical trials team that can host multicenter trials.
(5) Access to an experienced medical guided approval body with independent surgeons with regional and specialty representation.
(6) Access to a clinical education team based on faculty development and curriculum development processes.
The assessment of fracture healing is still subjective, due to the lack of clinically available quantitative measures. Without reliable information on the progression of healing and uniform criteria for union and non-union, therapeutic decision making, e.g. regarding the allowed weight bearing, hinges on the experience and the subjective evaluation of physicians.
Fracture stiffness is known as a valid outcome measure for the maturity of the repair tissue. With current technological advancements and a general trend towards digital health care, new generations of instrumented implants with sensoring capabilities, often termed as “smart implants”, are under development. They target X-ray free and timely provision of reliable feedback upon the mechanical competence of the repair tissue and the healing environment to support therapeutic decision making and individualized after-care.
The AO Fracture Monitor is a novel biofeedback sensor system developed to deliver data for evidence based and patient specific therapeutic decision making. The system provides continuous assessment of the fracture healing progression with implementation of smart implants for monitoring of interfragmentary movements, data processing and wireless transfer to the orthopedic trauma surgeon by means of a web server for centralized data collection. Currently, the system is on its pathway to clinics.
The AO Fracture Monitor renders the progression of bone fracture healing assessable and carries potential to contribute in enhancing today’s postoperative care and rehabilitation of fracture patients.
Horatiu Moldovan
Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery – “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, PhD Habil, PhD and residents coordinator, Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest – Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Head of Cardiovascular Surgery Department and coordinator of the Heart Transplant Program at the Clinical Hospital Emergency Bucharest, coordinator of the Clinical Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery within the Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children “Grigore Alexandrescu”.
He is part of the group of specialists who introduced coronary surgery and aortic dissection surgery in Romania, as well as the implantation of the first mechanical assistance devices of circulation: intraaortic balloon pump, partial artificial heart type “Novacor” and more recently HeartMate 3; within all cardiovascular surgery departments he worked in, implemented new technologies related to minimally invasive cardiac surgery, endovascular surgery (EVAR, TEVAR) and transcateter valve prosthesis (TA).
Full Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences, an Associate Member of the Romanian Academy of Scientists, a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Full Member of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and member of the Board of the Romanian Society of Cardiovascular Surgery, as well as member of 10 other national and international scientific societies.
Published as main author 7 specialized books, participated with chapters in other 20 books and manuals, out of which 4 in prestigious international publishers. He is the author / co-author for a number of over 120 published scientific papers: 60 ISI indexed publications, 34 ISI indexed extenso articles, of which 24 as lead author, FCIAP 41, Hirsch Index 10; Key note speaker in over 200 scientific national and international scientific events.
Areas of excellence for his practice and publications are major vascular surgery – aortic, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, science and engineering of biomaterials as haemostatic agents and surgical adhesives, cardiovascular devices (valve and vascular prostheses), endovascular surgery and cardiostructural procedures, and mechanical ventricular assistance and transplantation.
Prof.Dr. Horațiu Moldovan
Biomaterials as Haemostatic Agents in Cardiovascular Surgery: Review of Current Situation and Future Trends
Prof.Dr. Horatiu Moldovan
Abstract: Intraoperative haemostasis is of paramount importance in the practice of cardiovascular surgery. Over the past 70 years, topical haemostatic methods have advanced significantly and today we deal with various haemostatic agents with different properties and different mechanisms of action. The particularity of coagulation mechanisms after extracorporeal circulation, has encouraged the introduction of new types of topic agents to achieve haemostasis, where conventional methods prove their limits. These products have an important role in cardiac, as well as in vascular, surgery, mainly in major vascular procedures, like aortic dissections and aortic aneurysms. This article presents those agents used for topical application and the mechanism of haemostasis and offers general recommendations for their use in the operating room.
Iulian Antoniac
Prof. Iulian Antoniac obtained his M.E., Ph.D. and Postdoc degrees in Materials Science at the University Politehnica of Bucharest. Since 2002, he has been associated with the Medical Engineering program in the Faculty Materials Science and Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, which is focused on biomaterials obtaining and characterization, medical image processing and the development of new implants for medical applications.
Professor Iulian Antoniac is the leader of the Biomaterials Group, head of the Biomaterials & Interface Phenomenon Laboratory, full professor at Faculty Materials Science and Engineering. He was appointed Vice Dean of Faculty Materials Science and Engineering and member of the Senate of University Politehnica of Bucharest in 2016.
Professor Iulian Antoniac has published widely, with over 200 papers published in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, 7 patents, more than 20 books and books chapters (like Handbook of Bioceramics and Biocomposites) and more than 50 invited lectures at conferences focused on biomaterials, bioceramics and materials science. His scientific activity is materialized in many publications with relevant citation: ISI Web of Knowledge citation 233 (h-index 10); Scopus citation 580 (h-index 12); Google Scholar citation: 692 (h-index 14).He was member in the research team of 47 projects – in 13 of them as director or PI, and also as team leader or management group member in various international projects in different framework (FP5, FP7, COST, INTERREG).
He is Editor in Chief for the journal Materials Science Forum, editorial board member for other journals and reviewer for more than 40 journals.In 2005, he received the Daniel Bunea Award from the Romanian Society for Biomaterials. Also, he receives many awards for their patents at various international fairs and exhibitions dedicated to patents. He is currently President of the Romanian Society for Biomaterials (SRB), Former President and permanent Member of Executive Committee of the International Society for Ceramics in Medicine (ISCM).
Professor Iulian Antoniac research interests include: metallic biomaterials for orthopedic and dental applications, bioceramic coatings, biocomposites, biopolymers, retrieval analysis of explants, microscopy techniques for materials characterization, bone regeneration, physical and chemical characterization of nano- and micro- particles for biomedical application.
Present areas of research work: bioceramics, biocomposites, biodegradable metallic biomaterials, surface modification, interaction tissue-biomaterials, biointerfaces, tissue engineering, bone regeneration, retrieval and failure analysis of orthopedic and dental implants.
Abstract (to be added)
Alexandru-Vlad Ciurea
Professor of neurosurgery, Senior neurosurgeon, Founder of the National Center for Excellency in Neurosurgery, Honorary President of the Romanian Society of Neurosurgery, Vice-President of the WFNS Nomminating Committee.
Current Status: Head of Neurosurgery and Scientific Director, “Sanador Medical Center” Hospital, Bucharest; Professor of Neurosurgery, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest (1997-…); Head & Chairman Neurosurgical Clinic 1, “Bagdasar-Arseni” Hospital, Bucharest (1997-2013).
Professional Affiliations: Journal Neurosurgery (USA), International Advisory Board (2014); Journal World Neurosurgery (USA), Senior Advisors Pannel; Official Invited Lecturer, WFNS Continuous Medical Belem, Para, Brazil; Reelected Vicepresident of Euroacademia Multidisciplinaria Neurotraumatologica (December, Ulm, Germania); Member of Nominating Committee WFNS (Seoul, Korea); Official Member of Education Committee WFNS (Seoul, Korea); Honorary member of the Italian Society for Neurosurgery (Palermo, Italy); Vicepresident of Euroacademia Multidisciplinaria Neurotraumatologica ; Vicepresident Romanian Medical Association; Honorary member of the Bulgarian Society for Neurosurgery; Member of the Romanian Academy of Medical Sciences; Chairman WFNS Nominating Committee (Boston, USA); Vice-President Academia Multidisciplinaria Neurotraumatologica (Cluj-Napoca, Romania); International Member of the Brazilian Academy of Neurosurgery; Member of the Romanian Academy of Scientists; Vice-President ”at large” of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, Morocco; President, The Society of Neuro-Oncology, Romania.
Publications: Main author of 33 monographs in neurosurgery, neurology, healthcare management and food research; Author to 40 ISI-indexed papers
Honours, awards and distinctions: Nominated in the International Advisory Board of Neurosurgery (USA); Visiting Professor – International Neuroscience Institute – Hannover, Germany; Honorary Member of the Italian Society of Neurosurgery; Award of Excellence “Medica Academica” for Lifetime Achievement; Excellency Diploma of the Romanian Medical Association for the “Textbook of Neurosurgery” treatise, vol I and II; Excellency Diploma “Neurovasc” awarded at the International Congress of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Mumbai, India; Honorary Diploma of the Society for the Study of Neuroprotection and Neurorehabilitation (SSNN); Awarded prize for “Innovation in medical teaching” at the National “Healthcare Gala”; Diploma et charta aureus (full member) of the Romanian Academy of Scientists; Diploma of Excellency for Scientific Activity and Publishing in the Bucharest University of Medicine and Pharmacy, granted by the Journal of Medicine and Life, Bucharest; “New ideas regarding the presence of hidden anatomy in Michelangelo’s paintings”, registered with State Office for Inventions an Trademarks, Romania; Inventor’s license for “the unishunt drainage system”, single tube neurosurgical drainage system; an invention widely used in the World for the treatment of hydrocephalus; The National Order for Faithful Service of Romania with the rank of Commodore; a distinction awarded by the President of Romania.
4 Titles of Doctor Honoris Causa(Dunarea de Jos University, School of Medicine, Galați, Romania; N. Testemițanu University School of Medicine, Chisinau, Rep. of Moldova; Petre Andrei University, Iași, Romania; University of Oradea, School of Medicine, Oradea, Romania).
NEUROSURGICAL ACTUAL STATUS IN 3D PATIENT SPECIFIC IMPLANTS FOR CRANIOPLASTY.
(A ROMANIAN MULTICENTER STUDY)
1.2,*Prof. A.V. Ciurea MD., PhD., MSc.
3,4 Prof. A.Mohan MD. PhD.,
5,6 Assoc. Prof. M.V. Saceleanu MD. PhD.
7 A.A. Marinescu MD
1 Stud. A.A. Popa
8 A. Ladaru MBa. PhD.
1. “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
2. Department of Neurosurgery, Sanador Clinical Hospital, Bucharest Romania.
* Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy, Department of Medical Sciences
3. University Of Medicine and Pharmacy, Oradea, Romania.
4. Department of Neurosurgery, Emergency County Clinical Hospital, Oradea, Romania