Biomaterials for regenerative therapies

Research Topics

Tissue engineering of bone, vascular and neural tissue / Development of biomaterials for tissue regeneration / Research at the biointerface between surface materials and biological entities / Surface functionalisation / Stem cells research / Mesenchimal stem cells differentiation (Bone Regeneration), Endothelial Progenitor cells from Bone Marrow (Angiogenesis and Endothelisation), and Neural progenitor cells (Neural Regeneration)

Research in the Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies group is devoted to the development of innovative biomaterials and scaffolds for tissue regeneration. Bioactive and biodegradable materials are developed and studied and their interactions with biological entities are investigated both from their fundamental aspects and their specific applications for tissue engineering purposes, the aim of which is the repair and the functional restoration of tissues or organs by means of 3D scaffolds, cells and signals.

The group masters its own techniques to synthesize and to process biomaterials such as biodegradable polymers, calcium phosphate glasses and glass-ceramics, and their combination into composites and hybrids. Different fabrication techniques such as solvent-casting, rapid prototyping, electrospinning and micro-nano particles production allow the obtention of 3D scaffolds with tuned geometry, inner architecture, handability, mechanical properties and surface properties, useful for different clinical applications. In this direction, surface functionalisation with different biochemical cues to signal the biological environment as well as the incorporation of topographical and mechanical features have been optimized. The group has also the capacity to isolate and culture stem and precursor cells for the in vitro biological characterization of the developed scaffolds for tissue engineering.



Rat mesenchymal stem cells attached to hybrid PLA/glass electrospun fibres

In 2012, important progress was made towards the synthesis of new materials with ion release properties and angiogenic/osteogenic potential. New methods for the fabrication of 3D scaffolds and biodegradable nano and microparticles were developed and optimized. Electrospun polymer fiber based scaffolds have been developed for skin wound healing and neural regeneration. Rapid prototyping (RP) scaffolds with well-defined and reproducible architectures were set as platforms for studying bone regeneration and the inflammatory response. Injectable microparticles were developed and tested as potential cell carriers, paying particular attention to cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation as well as migration. Elastin-like Recombinant Polymers (ELR) promoting mineralization have also been explored. The combination of these materials and controlled manufacturing processes, together with their biofuncionalisation has allowed the development of new customized biodegradable systems for different clinical applications such as ophthalmology, nervous system, skin, tendon and bone.

Three-dimensional biodegradable Rapid Prototyping Scaffold, transversal view (left); upper view (right)

Calcium Sensing Receptor as a Target in Healing Therapies (Elisabeth Engel)

Stem cell fate is influenced by a number of factors and interactions that require robust control for safe and effective regeneration of functional tissue. Coordinated interactions with soluble factors, other cells, and extracellular matrices define a local biochemical and mechanical microenvironment with complex and dynamic regulation that stem cells sense. In order to successfully employ healing therapies (a sub-discipline in regenerative medicine) it becomes necessary to understand these interactions as to later replicate the “regenerative niche architecture” for therapeutical benefit. Calcium is an important first and second messenger in biological systems with many functions already described, and new ones arising constantly. Calcium concentrations in extracellular fluids vary markedly, and are particularly high at sites of injury or infection. The main objective of this project is to use biomaterial scaffolds that release calcium ions or agonist to activate regeneration and achieve a self healing procedure by means of biomaterials.

Rat mesenchymal stem cells attached to Polylactic acid microspheres






Elastin-like polymers gel forming aggregates in the form of globules giving rise to fiber-like structures

• Prof. Dr. Josep A. Planell | Research Fellow
• Dr. Elisabeth Engel | Junior Group Leader
• Dr. Oscar Castaño | Senior Researcher
• Dr. Miguel Angel Mateos | Senior Researcher
• Dr. Melba Navarro | Senior Researcher
• Dr. Soledad Pérez | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Zaida Álvarez Pinto | PhD Student
• Arlyng González Vázquez | PhD Student
• Riccardo Levato | PhD Student
• Joan Martí | PhD Student
• Claudia Navarro | PhD Student
• Xavier Puñet | PhD Student
• Nadège Sachot | PhD Student
• Aitor Sánchez Ferrero | PhD Student
• Tiziano Serra | PhD Student
• Mireia Hoyos | Master Student
• Sandra Lorenzo | Master Student
• Belén González | Laboratory Technician
• Xavier Monforte | Undergraduate Student
• Douglas Clift | Visiting Student

• Álvarez Pinto, Z., Mateos, M. A., Hyrossova, P., Castaño, O., Planell, J. A., Perales, J., Engel, E. & Alcantara, S. (2013). The effect of the composition of PLA films and lactate release on glial and neuronal maturation and the maintenance of the neuronal progenitor niche. Biomaterials, 34(9), 2221-2233.
• Serra, T., Planell, J. A. & Navarro, M. (2013). High-resolution PLA-based composite scaffolds via 3-D printing technology. Acta Biomaterialia, 9, 5521-5530.
• Salerno, A., Levato, R., Mateos, M. A., Engel, E., Netti, P. A. & Planell, J. A. (2013). Modular polylactic acid microparticle-based scaffolds prepared via microfluidic emulsion/solvent displacement process: Fabrication, characterization, and in vitro mesenchymal stem cells interaction study. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 101(3), 720-32.
• Mattotti, M., Álvarez Pinto, Z., Ortega, J. A., Planell, J. A., Engel, E. & Alcántara, S. (2012). Inducing functional radial glia-like progenitors from cortical astrocyte cultures using micropatterned PMMA. Biomaterials, 33(16), 1759–1770.
• Gustavsson, J., Ginebra, M. P., Planell, J. A. & Engel, E. (2012). Electrochemical microelectrodes for improved spatial and temporal characterization of aqueous environments around calcium phosphate cements. Acta Biomater, 8(1), 386-93.
• Tejeda-Montes, E., Smith, K. H., Poch, M., López-Bosque, M. J., Martín, L., Alonso, M., Engel, E. & Mata, A. (2012). Engineering membrane scaffolds with both physical and biomolecular signaling. Acta Biomater., 8(3), 998-1009.
• Navarro, M., Pu, F. & Hunt, J. (2012). The significance of the host inflammatory response on the therapeutic efficacy of cell therapies utilising human adult stem cells. Experimental Cell Research, 318(4), 361-370.
• Levato, R., Mateos, M. A. & Planell, J. A. (2012). Preparation of Biodegradable Polylactide Microparticles via a Biocompatible Procedure. Macromol. Biosci, 12(4), 557–566.
• Gustavsson, J., Planell, J. A. & Engel, E. (2012). Ion-selective electrodes to monitor osteoblast-like cellular influence on the extracellular concentration of calcium. J Tissue Eng Regen Med, epub ahead of print.
• Aguirre, A., González Vázquez, A., Navarro, M., Castaño, O., Planell, J. A. & Engel, E. (2012). Control of microenvironmental cues with a smart biomaterial composite promotes endothelial progenitor cell angiogenesis. European cells & materials, 01(24), 90-106.
• Pegueroles, M., Tonda-Turó, C., Planell, J. A., Gil, F. J. & Aparicio, C. (2012). Adsorption of fibronectin, fibrinogen, and albumin on TiO2: Time-resolved kinetics, structural changes, and competition study. Biointerphases, 7(48).
• Gustavsson, J., Ginebra, M. P., Planell, J. A. & Engel, E. (2012). Osteoblast-like cellular response to dynamic changes in the ionic extracellular environment produced by calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite. Journal of Materials Science-Materials in Medicine, 23(10), 2509-2520.
• Vila, O. F., Bagó, J. R., Navarro, M., Alieva, M., Aguilar, E., Engel, E., Planell, J. A., Rubio, N. & Blanco, J. (2012). Calcium phosphate glass improves angiogenesis capacity of poly(lactic acid) scaffolds and stimulates differentiation of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells to the endothelial lineage. J Biomed Mater Res A, epub ahead of print.
• Ambrosio, L., Guarino, V., Sanginario, V., Torricelli, P., Fini, M., Ginebra, M. P., Planell, J. A. & Giardino, R. (2012). Injectable calcium-phosphate-based composites for skeletal bone treatments. Biomedical Materials, 7(2), 1-10.
• Navarro, M. & Planell, J. A (2012). Is nanotechnology the key to unravel and engineer biological processes?. In Navarro, M. & Planell, J. A. (editors), Nanotechnology in Regenerative Medicine. Springer, Humana Press.
• Shin, S. -., Purevdorj, O., Castaño, O., Planell, J. A. & Kim, H. -. (2012). A short review: Recent advances in electrospinning for bone tissue regeneration. Journal of Tissue Engineering, 3(1).
• Noailly, J., Ambrosio, L., Tanner, K. E., Planell, J. A. & Lacroix, D. (2012). In silico evaluation of a new composite disc substitute with a L3–L5 lumbar spine finite element model. European Spine Journal, 21(5), 675-687.
• Castaño, O., Eltohamy, M. & Kim, H. W (2012). Electrospinning technology in tissue regeneration, pages 127-140. New York : Springer.
• Navarro, M. & Planell, J. A (2012). Composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering, pages 544-558. New Jersey, USA : John Wiley & Sons.
• Navarro, M. & Planell, J. A. (2012). Nanotechnology in Regenerative Medicine. Springer, New York, USA.
• Serra, T., Navarro, M. & Planell, J. A (2012). Fabrication and characterization of biodegradable composite scaffolds for tissue engineering. In “Innovative Developments in Virtual and Physical Prototyping”, pages 67-72. Taylor & Francis.
• Gustavsson, J., Ginebra, M. P., Engel, E. & Planell, J. A. (2011). Ion reactivity of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite in standard cell culture media. Acta Biomater., 7(12), 4242-52.
• Perut, F., Montufar, B., Ciapetti, G., Santin, M., Salvage, J., Traykova, T., Planell, J. A., P., G. M. & Baldini, N. (2011). Novel soybean/gelatine-based bioactive and injectable hydroxyapatite foam: Material properties and cell response. Acta Biomaterialia, 7(4), 1780-1787.
• Noailly, J., Planell, J. A. & Lacroix, D. (2011). On the collagen criss-cross angles in the annuli fibrosi of lumbar spine finite element models. Biomech Model Mechanobiol., 10(2), 203-219.
• Pegueroles, M., Aguirre, A., Engel, E., Pavon, G., Gil, F., Planell, J. A., Migonney, V. & Aparicio, C. (2011). Effect of blasting treatment and Fn coating on MG63 adhesion and differentiation on titanium: a gene expression study using real-time RT-PCR. J Mater Sci Mater Med., 22(3), 617-627.
• Navarro, M. & Planell, J. A. (2011). Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration. European Musculoskeletal Reviews, 6(4), 1-5.
• Serra, T., Navarro, M. & Planell, J. A. (2011). Fabrication and characterization of Biodegradable Composite Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering in Innovative developments in virtual and physical prototyping. London : aylor & Francis, CRC Press.
• Altankov, G., Groth, T., Engel, E., Gustavsson, J., Pegueroles, M., Aparicio, C., Gil, F. J., Ginebra, M.-P. & Planell, J. A (2010). Development of Provisional Extracellular Matrix on Biomaterials Interface: Lessons from In Vitro Cell Culture. In Shastri, Prasad, V., Altankov, George, Lendlein & Andreas (editors), Advances in Regenerative Medicine: Role of Nanotechnology, and Engineering Principles. Springer Netherlands.
• Coelho, N., González-garcía, C., Planell, J. A., Salmerón-Sánchez, M. & Altankov, G. (2010). Different assembly of type IV collagen on hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrata alters endothelial cells interaction. Eur Cell Mater(19), 262-272.
• Navarro, M. & Planell, J. A. (2010). Bioactive Composites Based on Calcium Phosphates for Bone Regeneration. In: Advanced Bioceramics in Nanomedicine and Tissue Engineering (ed. Vallet-Regí, M. and Vila, M.). Laussane, Key Engineering Materials, 441, 203-233.
• Navarro, M. & Michiardi, A. (2010). The Challenge of combining cells, synthetic materials and growth factors to engineer bone tissue. In: Synthetic and Integrative Biology: Parts and Systems, Design Theory and Application (ed. Barnes, J. B. and Harris, L. P.), Nova Science Pub Inc. Biotechnology in Agriculture, Industry and Medicine, 105-121.
• Planell, J. A., Navarro, M., Altankov, G., Aparicio, C., Engel, E., Gil, J., Ginebra, M. P. & Lacroix, D (2010). Materials Surface Effects on Biological Interactions. In Shastri, Prasad, V., Altankov, George, Lendlein & Andreas (editors), Advances in Regenerative Medicine: Role of Nanotechnology, and Engineering Principles. Springer Netherlands.
• Montufar, E., Traykova, T., Schacht, E., Ambrosio, L., Santin, M., Planell, J. A. & Ginebra, M.-P. (2010). Self-hardening calcium deficient hydroxyapatite/gelatine foams for bone regeneration. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 21, 863-869.
• Montufar, E. B., Traykova, T., Gil, C., Harr, I., Almirall, A., Aguirre, A., Ginebra, M. P., Engel, E. & Planell, J. A. (2010). Foamed surfactant solution as a template for self-setting injectable hydroxyapatite scaffolds for bone regeneration. Acta Biomaterialia, 6(3), 876 - 885.
• Aguirre, A., González, A., Planell, J. A. & Engel, E. (2010). Extracellular calcium modulates in vitro bone marrow-derived Flk-1+ CD34+ progenitor cell chemotaxis and differentiation through a calcium-sensing receptor.. Biochem Biophys Res Commun.2, 393, 156-61.
• Pegueroles, M., Aparicio, C., Bosio, M., Engel, E., Gil, F. J., Planell, J. A. & Altankov, G. (2010). Spatial organization of osteoblast fibronectin matrix on titanium surfaces: Effects of roughness, chemical heterogeneity and surface energy. Acta Biomaterialia, 6(1), 291 - 301.
• Rajzer, I., Castaño, O., Engel, E. & Planell, J. A. (2010). Injectable and fast resorbable calcium phosphate cement for body-setting bone grafts. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 21, 2049-2056.
• Noailly, J., Planell, J. A. & Lacroix, D. (2010). On the collagen criss-cross angles in the annuli fibrosi of lumbar spine finite element models. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology(10), 203-219.
• Milan, J.-L., Planell, J. A. & Lacroix, D. (2010). Simulation of bone tissue formation within a porous scaffold under dynamic compression. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, 9, 583-596.
• Koch, M. A., Vrij, E. J., Engel, E., Planell, J. A. & Lacroix, D. (2010). Perfusion cell seeding on large porous PLA/calcium phosphate composite scaffolds in a perfusion bioreactor system under varying perfusion parameters. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 95A(4), 1011-1018.
• Aguirre, A., Planell, J. A. & Engel, E. (2010). Dynamics of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cell/mesenchymal stem cell interaction in co-culture and its implications in angiogenesis. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 400(2), 284 - 291.
• Aparicio, C., Salvagni, E., Werner, M., Engel, E., Pegueroles, M., Rodriguez-Cabello, C., Munoz, F., Planell, J. A. & Gil, J. (2009). Biomimetic Treatments on Dental Implants for Immediate Loading Applications. Journal of Medical Devices, 3(2), 027555.
• Planell, J. A. & Navarro, M (2009). Developing Targeted Biocomposites in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. In Ambrosio, Luigi (editor), Biomedical Composites. Woodhead Publishing. UK.
• Jang, J.-H., Castaño, O. & Kim, H.-W. (2009). Electrospun materials as potential platforms for bone tissue engineering. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 61(12), 1065 - 1083.
• Milan, J.-L., Planell, J. A. & Lacroix, D. (2009). Computational modelling of the mechanical environment of osteogenesis within a polylactic acid-calcium phosphate glass scaffold. Biomaterials, 30(25), 4219 - 4226.
• Martínez, E., Engel, E., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2009). Effects of artificial micro and nano structured surfaces on cell behaviour. Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger, 191(1), 126 - 135.
• Lacroix, D., Planell, J. A. & Prendergast, P. J. (2009). Computer-aided design and finite-element modelling of biomaterial scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 367(1895), 1993-2009.
• Rodríguez-Seguí, S. A., Pla-Roca, M., Engel, E., Planell, J. A., Martínez, E. & Samitier, J. (2009). Influence of fabrication parameters on cellular microarrays for stem cell studies. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 20(7), 1525-1533.
• Malandrino, A., Planell, J. A. & Lacroix, D. (2009). Statistical factorial analysis on the poroelastic material properties sensitivity of the lumbar intervertebral disc under compression, flexion and axial rotation. Journal of Biomechanics, 42(16), 2780 - 2788.
• Olivares, A., Marsal, È., Planell, J. A. & Lacroix, D. (2009). Finite element study of scaffold architecture design and culture conditions for tissue engineering. Biomaterials, 30(30), 6142 - 6149.
• Niepel, M. S., Peschel, D., Sisquella, X., Planell, J. A. & Groth, T. (2009). pH-dependent modulation of fibroblast adhesion on multilayers composed of poly(ethylene imine) and heparin. Biomaterials, 30(28), 4939 - 4947.
• Engel, E., Martínez, E., Mills, C. A., Funes, M., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2009). Mesenchymal stem cell differentiation on microstructured poly (methyl methacrylate) substrates. Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger, 191(1), 136 - 144.
• Planell, J. A. & Navarro, M (2009). The Challenges of Bone Repair. In Planell, A, J., Best, Lacroix, S. &., Damien, Merolli et al (editors), Bone Repair Biomaterials. Woodhead Publishing. UK.
• Navarro, M., Michiardi, A., Castaño, O. & Planell, J. A. (2008). Biomaterials in Orthopaedics. Interface, 5(27), 1137-1158.
• Navarro, M., Engel, E., Planell, J. A., Amaral, I., Barbosa, M. & Ginebra, M. (2008). Surface characterization and cell response of a PLA/CaP glass biodegradable composite material. J Biomed Mater Res A., 85(2), 477-86.
• Engel, E., Michiardi, A., Navarro, M., Lacroix, D. & Planell, J. A. (2008). Nanotechnology in regenerative medicine: the materials side. Trends in Biotechnology, 26(1), 39 - 47.
• Charles-Harris, M., Koch, M., Navarro, M., Lacroix, D., Engel, E. & Planell, J. (2008). A PLA/calcium phosphate degradable composite material for bone tissue engineering: an in vitro stud. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 19, 1503-1513.
• Michiardi, A., Engel, E., Aparicio, C., Planell, J. A. & Gil, F. J. (2008). Oxidized NiTi surfaces enhance differentiation of osteoblast-like cells. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 85A(1), 108-114.
• Díaz, M., Sevilla, P., Galán, A. M., Escolar, G., Engel, E. & Gil, F. J. (2008). Evaluation of ion release, cytotoxicity, and platelet adhesion of electrochemical anodized 316 L stainless steel cardiovascular stents. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, 87B(2), 555-561.
• Navarro, M., Benetti, E. M., Zapotoczny, S., Planell, J. A. & Vancso, G. J. (2008). Buried, Covalently Attached RGD Peptide Motifs in Poly(methacrylic acid) Brush Layers: The Effect of Brush Structure on Cell Adhesion. Langmuir, 24(19), 10996-11002.
• Engel, E., del Valle, S., Aparicio, C., Altankov, G., Asín, L., Planell, J. A. & Ginebra, M. (2008). Discerning the role of topography and ion exchange in cell response of bioactive tissue engineering scaffolds.. Tissue Eng Part A. 14, 8, 1341-51.
• Sandino, C., Planell, J. A. & Lacroix, D. (2008). A finite element study of mechanical stimuli in scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Journal of Biomechanics, 41(5), 1005-1014.
• Martínez, E., Engel, E., López-Iglesias, C., Mills, C. A., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2008). Focused Ion Beam/ SEM characterization of cell behavior on polymer micro/ nanopatterned substrates: study of cell-substrate interactions. Micron, 39(2), 111-6.
• Benetti, E., Navarro, M., Zapotoczny, S. & Vansco, G (2008). Stimuli Responsive Polymer Brushes. In Förch, R, Schönherr, Jenkins, A.T. (editors), Surface Design: Applications in Bioscience and Nanotechnology. Wiley.
• Noailly, J., Wilke, H.-J., Planell, J. A. & Lacroix, D. (2007). How does the geometry affect the internal biomechanics of a lumbar spine bi-segment finite element model? Consequences on the validation process. Journal of Biomechanics, 40(11), 2414 - 2425.
• Byrne, D. P., Lacroix, D., Planell, J. A., Kelly, D. J. & Prendergast, P. J. (2007). Simulation of tissue differentiation in a scaffold as a function of porosity, Young's modulus and dissolution rate: Application of mechanobiological models in tissue engineering. Biomaterials, 28(36), 5544 - 5554.
• Charles-Harris, M., Valle, S. D., Hentges, E., Bleuet, P., Lacroix, D. & Planell, J. A. (2007). The mechanical and structural characterisation of completely degradable polylactic acid. Biomaterials, 28, 4429-4438.
• Martínez, E., Ríos-Mondragón, I., Pla-Roca, M., Rodríguez-Segui, S., Engel, E., Mills, C. A., Sisquella, X., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2007). Cell-Surface Interactions Studies to Trigger Stem Cell Differentiation. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 3(4), 349 - 349.
• Mills, C. A., Martínez, E., Errachid, A., Engel, E., Funes, M., Moormann, C., Wahlbrink, T., Gomila, G., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2007). Nanoembossed Polymer Substrates for Biomedical Surface Interaction Studies. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 7, 4588-4594(7).
• Roca, D., Lacroix, D., Caja, V. L., Proubasta, I. & Planell, J. A. (2007). Tratamiento quirúrgico de la pseudoartrosis aséptica de la diáfisis humeral. Estudio biomecánico. Rev Ortop Traumatol(51), 118-123.
• Mills, C., Fernandez, J., Martínez, E., Funes, M., Engel, E., Errachid, A., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2007). Directional Alignment of MG63 Cells on Polymer Surfaces Containing Point Microstructures. Small, 3(5), 871-879.
• Martínez, E., Ríos-Mondragón, I., Pla-Roca, M., Rodríguez-Segui, S., Engel, E., Mills, C. A., Sisquella, X., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2007). Production of functionalised micro and nanostructured polymer surfaces to trigger mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. Journal of Biotechnology, 131(2, Supplem), S67 - S67.
• Mills, C. A., Navarro, M., Engel, E., Martínez, E., Ginebra, M. P., Planell, J., Errachid, A. & Samitier, J. (2006). Transparent micro- and nanopatterned poly(lactic acid) for biomedical applications. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 76A(4), 781-787.
• Lacroix, D., Chateau, A., Ginebra, M.-P. & Planell, J. A. (2006). Micro-finite element models of bone tissue-engineering scaffolds. Biomaterials, 27(30), 5326 - 5334.
• Sanginario, V., Ginebra, M., Tanner, K., Planell, J. A. & Ambrosio, L. (2006). Biodegradable and semi-biodegradable composite hydrogels as bone substitutes: morphology and mechanical characterization. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 17, 447-454.
• Traykova, T., Aparicio, C., Ginebra, M. P. & Planell, J. A. (2006). Bioceramics as nanomaterials. Nanomedicine, 1, 91-106.
• Navarro, M., Aparicio, C., Charles-Harris, M., Ginebra, M., Engel, E. & Planell, J. A (2006). Development of a Biodegradable Composite Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering: Physicochemical, Topographical, Mechanical, Degradation, and Biological Properties. In Vancso & G. (editors), Ordered Polymeric Nanostructures at Surfaces. Springer Berlin / Heidelberg.
• Charles-Harris, M., Aparicio, C., Navarro, M., Engel, E., Ginebra, M. & Planell, J. A. (2005). Surface characterization of completely degradable composite scaffolds. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 16, 1125-1130.
• Navarro, M., Barrias, C., Engel, E., Barbosa, M., Ginebra, M. & Planell, J. A. (2005). In vitro degradation behaviour of a novel bioresorbable composite material based on PLA and a soluble CaP glass_1. Acta Biomaterialia, 1, 411-419.
• Navarro, M., Ginebra, M., Planell, J. A., Zeppetelli, S. & Ambrosio, L. (2004). Development and cell response of a new biodegradable composite scaffold for guided bone regeneration. J Mater Sci Mater Med., 15(4), 419-22.

Projects

• ANGIOSCAFF Highly Porous Bioactive Scaffolds Controlling Angiogenesis for Tissue Engineering (2008-2012) Josep A. Planell
• DISC REGENERATION: Novel Biofunctional High Porous Polymer Scaffolds and Techniques Controlling Angiogenesis for the Regeneration and Repair of the Degenerated Intervertebral Disc (2008-2012) Josep A. Planell
• Evaluación biológica de materiales bioactivos, biomiméticos y multifuncionales para la regeneración ósea (2010-2012) Elisabeth Engel
• THE GRAIL: Tissue in Host Engineering Guided Regeneration of Arterial Intimal Layer EU - Cooperation - HEALTH (partner)
  
• Estudio in vitro de la respuesta inflamatoria de andamios biodegradables para ingeniería de tejidos Programa de Proyectos Internacionales-Proyectos de Movilidad (Acciones Integradas). Melba Navarro
  
• Desenvolupament d'un apòsit pel tractament d'úlceres vasculars que promogui la revascularització i la regeneració tissul·lar AGAUR. Melba Navarro
• Andamios diseñados para promover una vascularización eficiente para fracturas óseas no consolidadas MICINN. Josep A. Planell (coordinator)
• nAngioFrac: Angiogenic nanostructured materials for non-consolidating bone fractures EU - EURONANOMED
  

Collaborations

• Prof. Hae-Won Kim Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea


• José Ramón Sarasua Biopolymers and Thermoplastics Materials Group, University of the Basque Country (EHU-UPV)


• Dr. José Antonio Andrades Gómez Dept. Biología Celular, Genética y Fisiología, Universidad de Málaga


• Dr. José Becerra Ratia Dept. Biología Celular, Genética y Fisiología, Universidad de Málaga


• Dr. Małgorzata Lewandowska Faculty of Materials Science & Engineering, WUT Warsaw University of Technology, Poland
  


• Dr. Izabella Rajzer Institute of Textile Engineering and Polymer Materials, University of Bielsko-Biala, Poland
  


• Prof. James Kirkpatrick Institute of Pathology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz (Germany)


• Prof. Francesco Serino Department of Vascular Surgery, Istituto Dermatologico dell’Immacolata (IDI), Rome (Italy)


• Dr. Mário Barbosa Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Oporto (Portugal)


• Dr. Jerónimo Blanco Institut de Ciències Cardiovasculars de Catalunya and CSIC, Barcelona (Spain)


• Dr. María Vallet Regí Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain).


• Dr. Matilde Alonso Dept. de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad de Valladolid (Spain).


• Dr. Soledad Alcántara Grup de Desenvolupament Neural, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona (Spain)


• Dr. Alvaro Mata Plataforma de Nanotecnología, Barcelona (Spain)


• Dr. Joelle Amedee INSERM, Bordeaux (France)


• Dr. José Carlos Rodríguez-Cabello Dept. Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad de Valladolid, Spain


• Dr. Julio San Román Dept. of Biomaterials, Institute of Polymer Science and Technology, CSIC, Madrid, Spain


• Dra. Julia Bujan Dept. de Ciencias Morfológicas y Cirugía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain


• Dra. Anita Ignatius Institut für Unfallchirurgische Forschung und Biomechanik, University of Ulm, Germany


• Dra. Margarita Calonge Institute of Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), University of Valladolid, Spain


• Dr. Jeffrey Hubbell Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland


• Dr. Manuel Doblaré Group of Structural Mechanics and Materials Modelling, Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, Spain


• Dr. Mateo Santin School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Great Britain


• Dr. Juan Rojo Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain


• Dr. Luigi Ambrosio Centro di Recerca Interdipartimental Biomateriali, Università di Napoli, Italy


• Dr. Francisco Blanco Complejo Universitario Juan Canalejo, La Coruña, Spain


• Dr. Nick Rhodes Dept. of Clinical Engineering, University of Liverpool, Great Britain

• ElectroForce® BioDynamic® test instrument
• Ion selective electrodes for Ca2+, Na+, K+, and pH
• Vibrational viscosimeter
• Spin-coater
• Electrospinning device
• Combustion furnace
• Peptide synthetiser
• Surface characterization equipment

  Contact angle, Z potential, Quartz Crystal Microbalance, Nanoindentator

• Molecular Biology equipment:

  Protein and DNA electrophoresis

• Rapid prototyping tool

  (part of the Production of biomaterials and nanoparticles platform of the CIBER-BBN)
  http://www.ciber-bbn.es/programas/plataformas/equipamiento/biomateriales?nodo=nodo2&locale=en

• Thermocycler (PCR)
• Cell culture facilities

22/01/2013

A step towards repairing the central nervous system

Researchers from IBEC and the University of Barcelona have revealed a promising new strategy for regenerating the central nervous system, in a paper published in the journal Biomaterials.

 

25/07/2012

Smart biomaterial promotes angiogenesis

IBEC researchers have stuck tissue engineering gold with the creation of a new ‘smart’ biomaterial that triggers angiogenesis by providing the biochemical and mechanical cues needed for the process to begin.

 

27/02/2012

Developing a new solution to treat atherosclerosis

We’ve all eaten rich meals or fatty foods and joked that we can feel our ‘arteries hardening’. However, the reality of atherosclerosis – when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the artery walls and form solid structures called plaques – is no joking matter. The consequences of this disorder can include stroke and coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death in many developed countries.

 

08/02/2012

Green light for regeneration projects

The two IBEC-led CIBER-BBN tissue regeneration projects that were earmarked for funding by the EU's ERA-NET EuroNanoMed initiative last year (see www.ibecbarcelona.eu/IBEC-News/funding-success-for-two-ibec-projects.html) have both received the national support they need to get started.

5/01/2012

New year, new name

IBEC director Josep Planell’s research group has changed its name and is now known as the Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies group.

17/12/2010

IBEC director elected to the Royal Academy of Science and Arts of Barcelona

In the beautiful surroundings of Academy House on Rambla dels Estudis last night, IBEC director Josep Planell was elected as Academician of the Royal Academy of Science and Arts of Barcelona (RACAB).

16/12/2010

‘Biowaffle’ wins Image of the Year 2010

The lucky winners of the Image of the Year 2010 competition received their prizes today.

03/12/2010

The regeneration game

Tackling tissue morphogenesis in humans

 

20/10/2010

www.noticiascadadia.com: "Oportunidades de crecimiento de los biomateriales en las tecnologías médicas"

An announcement on www.noticiascadadia.com about 20 October's Biocat-organised meeting on 'Biomateriales: de la biónica hacia la regeneración y las terapias avanzadas' at the Museo Colet in Barcelona.

27/08/2009

The Guardian Supplement: Nanotechnology 2009 – Part 1

Josep Planell, Director of the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, explains his work on tissue regeneration at the nanoscale.

16/09/2007

Entrevista a Josep A. Planell al diari El Mundo

El passat 16 de setembre, el diari El Mundo, dins el seu suplement de Biotecnologia, va publicar una entrevista a Josep A. Planell, director de l'IBEC.