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Prof. Dr. George Altankov (ICREA Research Professor)
Group Leader

Pavelló Govern 1ª Planta | Campus de Bellvitge | Feixa Llarga, s/n | 08907 | L'Hospitalet de Llobregat
T. +34 934 039 709
Email : george.altankovicrea.cat

George Altankov received his MD in 1974 from the Medical University of Varna (Bulgaria) where he also started his research career as Assistant Professor of Physiology. After obtaining his PhD he joined a research team at the Institute of Biophysics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, advancing to Associate Professor (1995) and Full Professor (2004) as well as Head of the Cell Adhesion Department (2004-2007) and Research Director of the institute (2004-2006).

In 2003 he obtained a Doctor of Sciences degree in Cell Biology. In 1991-1993 he joined the group of Fred Grinnell in Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and later visited several leading laboratories in Europe, including Humboldt University, GKSS Research Center (Berlin), Technical University of Barcelona and others, working on joint projects.

He was awarded a Marie Curie senior EU fellowship and a Sabbatical Grant of the Spanish Ministry (2006). He has published more than 100 original papers and filed several patents in the field of cell-biomaterials interaction and tissue engineering. Since April 2007 he has been an ICREA Research Professor at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), continuing his research in the field with emphasis on the organization of extracellular matrix at biomaterials interfaces.

Publications

• Pecheva, E., Pramatarova, L., Hikov, T., Hristova, K., Altankov, G., Montgomery, P. & Hanawa, T (2012). Electrodeposition of hydroxyapatite-nanodiamond composite coating on metals, interaction with proteins and osteoblast-like cells. In Mohanty & S, U. (editors), Electrodeposition: Properties, processes and applications (Electrical Engineering Developments). Hauppauge, USA : Nova Publishers.
• Coelho, N., Gonzalez-Garcia, C., Salmeron-Sanchez, M. & Altankov, G. (2011). Arrangement of type IV collagen and laminin on substrates with controlled density of -OH groups. Tissue Eng Part A., 17(17-18), 2245-57.
• Hristova, K., Pecheva, E., Pramatarova, L. & Altankov, G. (2011). Improved interaction of osteoblast-like cells with apatite-nanodiamond coatings depends on fibronectin. J Mater Sci Mater Med., 22(8), 1891-900.
• Coelho, N., Gonzalez-Garcia, C., Salmeron-Sanchez, M. & Altankov, G. (2011). Arrangement of type IV collagen on NH2 and COOH functionalized surfaces. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 108(12), 3009–3018.
• Gugutkov, D., Gonzalez-Garcia, C., Altankov, G. & Salmeron-Sanchez, M. (2011). Fibrinogen organization at the cell-material interface directs endothelial cell behavior. Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, 26(4), 375-387.
• Perez, R., Del Valle, S., Altankov, G. & GInebra, M.-P. (2011). Porous hydroxyapatite and gelatin/hydroxyapatite microspheres obtained by calcium phosphate cement emulsion. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, 97B(1), 156–166.
• Perez, R., Del Valle, S., Altankov, G. & Ginebra, M. (2011). Porous hydroxyapatite and gelatin/hydroxyapatite microspheres obtained by calcium phosphate cement emulsion. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B-Applied Biomaterials, 97B(1), 156-166.
• Coelho, N., Gonzalez-Garcia, C., Planell, J. A., Salmeron-Sanchez, 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Gugutkov, D., Altankov, G., Hernández, J. C., Pradas, M. M. & Sánchez, M. S. (2010). Fibronectin activity on substrates with controlled -OH density. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 92A(1), 322-331.
• Salmeron-Sanchez, M. & Altankov, G. (2010). Cell-Protein-Material interaction in tissue engineering.. Tissue Engineering (ed. Eberli, D.). Vukovar,Croatia, Intech(524).
• Groth, T., Liu, Z.-M., Niepel, M., Peschel, D., Kirchhof, K., Altankov, G. & Faucheux, N (2010). Chemical and Physical Modifications of Biomaterial Surfaces to Control Adhesion of Cells. Advances in Regenerative Medicine: Role of Nanotechnology, and Engineering Principles. Springer Netherlands.
• Shastri, V. P., Altankov, G. & Lendlein, A. (2010). Advances in regenerative medicine: Role of nanotechnology, and engineering principles. Dortrecht, The Netherlands. Springer..
• Toromanov, G., González-García, C., Altankov, G. & Salmerón-Sánchez, M. (2010). Vitronectin activity on polymer substrates with controlled –OH density. Polymer(51), 2329-2336.
• 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.
• Toromanov, G., González-García, C., Altankov, G. & Salmerón-Sánchez, M. (2010). Vitronectin activity on polymer substrates with controlled -OH density. Polymer, 51(11), 2329 - 2336.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Rico, P., Hernandez, J. C., Moratal, D., Altankov, G., Pradas, M. M. & Salmeron-Sanchez, M. (2009). Substrate-Induced Assembly of Fibronectin into Networks: Influence of Surface Chemistry and Effect on Osteoblast Adhesion. TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 15(11), 3271-3281.
• Keranov, I., Vladkova, T. G., Minchev, M., Kostadinova, A., Altankov, G. & Dineff, P. (2009). Topography characterization and initial cellular interaction of plasma-based Ar+ beam-treated PDMS surfaces. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 111(5), 2637-2646.
• Gugutkov, D., González-García, C., Hernández, J. C., Altankov, G. & Salmerón-Sánchez, M. (2009). Biological Activity of the Substrate-Induced Fibronectin Network: Insight into the Third Dimension through Electrospun Fibers. Langmuir, 25(18), 10893-10900.
• Kirchhof, K., Hristova, K., Krasteva, N., Altankov, G. & Groth, T. (2009). Multilayer coatings on biomaterials for control of MG-63 osteoblast adhesion and growth. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 20, 897-907.
• Kostadinova, A., Seifert, B., Albrecht, W., Malsch, G., Groth, T., Lendlein, A. & Altankov, G. (2009). Novel Polymer Blends for the Preparation of Membranes for Biohybrid Liver Systems. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 20, 821-839(19).
• Manara, S., Paolucci, F., Palazzo, B., Marcaccio, M., Foresti, E., Tosi, G., Sabatini, S., Sabatino, P., Altankov, G. & Roveri, N. (2008). Biomimetic hydroxiapatite coating electrochemically deposited on titanium plate. Inorganic Chimica Acta, 361(6), 1634-1645.
• Gustavsson, J., Altankov, G., Errachid, A., Samitier, J., Planell, J. A. & Engel, E. (2008). Surface modifications of silicon nitride for cellular biosensor applications. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 19, 1839-1850.
• Keranov, I., Vladkova, T., Minchev, M., Kostadinova, A. & Altankov, G. (2008). Preparation, characterization, and cellular interactions of collagen-immobilized PDMS surfaces. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 110(1), 321-330.
• Maneva-Radicheva, L., Ebert, U., Dimoudis, N. & Altankov, G. (2008). Fibroblast remodeling of collagen type IV is altered in contact with cancer cells. Histology&Histopathology(23), 833-841.
• 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.
• 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.
• Gustavsson, J., Altankov, G., Errachid, A., Samitier, J., Planell, J. A. & Engel, E. (2008). Surface modifications of silicon nitride for cellular biosensor applications. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 19, 1839-1850.
• Valtcheva-Sarker, R., Stephanova, E., Hristova, K., Altankov, G., Momchilova, A. & Pankov, R. (2007). Halothane affects focal adhesion proteins in the A 549 cells. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 295, 59-64.
• Spasova, M., Stoilova, O., Manolova, N., Rashkov, I. & Altankov, G. (2007). Preparation of PLLA/PEG Nanofibers by Electrospinning and Potential Applications. Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, 22(1), 62-76.
• Dimitrova, M., Pramatarova, L., Pecheva, E., Laquerriere, P., Montgomery, P., Petrova, A. & Altankov, G. (2007). Osteoblast cell activity on calcium phosphate layers grown on glass by a laser-liquid-solid interaction. J Optoelectron Adv M 9, 240-243.
• Manara, S., Paolucci, F., Palazzo, B., Marcaccio, M., Foresti, E., Tosi, G., Sabatini, S., Sabatino, P., Altankov, G. & Roveri, N. (2007). Electrochemically-assisted deposition of biomimetic hydroxyapatite–collagen coatings on titanium plate. Inorg Chim Acta (in press).
• Pecheva, E., Pramatarova, L. & Altankov, G. (2007). Hydroxyapatite Grown on a Native Extracellular Matrix:  Initial Interactions with Human Fibroblasts. Langmuir, 23(18), 9386-9392.