Welcome at the Transregio 67: Functional biomaterials for controlling healing processes in bone and skin tissue – from material to clinic
The demographic trends in Germany and other industrialized nations result in a considerable increase in patients with bone defects and chronic wounds. This requires the development of novel functional biomaterials, which improve bone and skin regeneration in an aging, multimorbid population. New knowledge about the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) for the regeneration of tissues opens new opportunities for the design of innovative biomaterials. The structure and composition of ECM significantly influences cellular differentiation and function and the healing of tissues. The aim of the TRR 67 is to develop and investigate novel functional biomaterials based on artificial (a) ECM. Essential functional components of these materials are glycosaminoglycan derivatives and proteoglycan analogues in combination with structural proteins or synthetic carrier substances.