Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
BIOMATERIALS & TISSUE ENGINEERING
Director: Candan Tamerler, Ph.D.
Research in the Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering track involves the investigation and development of materials and structures to improve the quality of life for patients. These materials—which may be synthetic, natural, or cell-based—are intended to assist in the diagnosis of pathology or injury, monitor condition, and improve or restore normal physiological function in the human body.
Biomaterials science is the study of materials and their interaction with biological environments, and tissue engineering is the application of engineering and life sciences toward development of a biomaterial to restore, maintain and improve tissue function. Research in this inter- and multidisciplinary field involves collaborations among engineers, surgeons, materials scientists, biological scientists, chemists, dentists, and veterinarians in academics, industry, government and the clinic.
Students in this track are trained in structure-function-property relationships, which are built on a foundation in biology, materials science, and engineering. As a part of their coursework, students learn to independently develop a plan of research.
Specific research areas available at KU include drug delivery devices, tissue engineering, soft tissue biomechanics, biosensors, diagnostics and therapeutics, combination products, biocompatible materials, injury biomechanics, hydrogels, microparticle fabrication, gene and protein delivery, mass transport, polymer science, biocatalysis, biofluids, and dental materials. Graduates are prepared to enter into industry, government, or academics, where they will be able to assist in research programs in biomaterials.
Track Faculty
- Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
- Professor, Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Associated Tracks
Bioimaging
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomedical Product Design & Development
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Nanoparticles and Colloids in Pharmaceuticals and Biomedicine
- Track Director, Biomolecular Engineering
- Assistant Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Molecular Engineering and Interfacial Nanomedicine
Associated Tracks
Bioimaging
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomechanics & Neural Engineering
Biomedical Product Design & Development
Research Interests
Tissue Mechanics
Computational Joint Mechanics
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomedical Product Design & Development
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Biomimetic Materials
Hydrogels
Tissue Engineering
Drug Delivery
Bioprocessing
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomedical Product Design & Development
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Bio-Inspired Nano/Micro Manufacturing
3D Printing and Bioprinting of Living Tissue Foundry
Extracellular Vesicles for Cancer Immunotherapy
3D Microfluidics and Nanotechnology
Titles
Associate Department Chair, Mechanical Engineering
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomechanics & Neural Engineering
Biomedical Product Design & Development
Research Interests
Applications of Biomechanics and Machine Design
Biomechanics Testing Machines and Experimental Designs
Kinematic Joint Studies
Wear of Artificial Components
Testing and Evaluation of Prosthetic Devices
Titles
Distinguished Professor, Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Physical Biochemistry, stabilization of macromolecules, vaccines
Titles
Professor, Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering
Associated Tracks
Bioimaging
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomechanics & Neural Engineering
Biomedical Product Design & Development
Research Interests
Nano-micro-macro mechanics of calcified and soft tissues, constitutive modeling and computational methods, scanning acoustic microscopy and ultrasonic testing
Titles
Assistant Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomedical Product Design & Development
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Biomimetic Nanomaterials
Tissue Matrix Engineering
Biotransporters
Therapeutic Medical Implants
Stem Cells
Titles
Assistant Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Sex and Age-Specific Biomaterials
Regeneration of Soft-to-Hard Tissue Interfaces
Determination of Sex Differences in Musculoskeletal Tissue
Titles
Associate Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Research Interests
Enzyme catalysis in non-aqueous solvents; extractive fermentation; pharmaceutical and biomaterials processing with compressed carbon dioxide.
Titles
Chair, Division of Biomedical Sciences
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry
University of Southern California
Associated Tracks
Biomedical Sciences with special training in Pathology and Biomaterials
Research Interests
Amplifying cell signals for potentially lower cost stem cell interventions
Titles
KU Foundation Distinguished Professor, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomedical Product Design & Development
Research Interests
Nano Devices and Microfluidics
- Director, Institute for Bioengineering Research
- Deane E. Ackers Distinguished Professor, Mech. Eng.
Associated Tracks
Bioimaging
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomedical Product Design & Development
Research Interests
Professor Spencer and her research team are designing, synthesizing, and developing novel biomaterials for the repair and replacement of mineralized tissues. Under in vivo conditions, failure of a repair or replacement generally begins at the biomaterial/tissue interface and thus, a key aspect of our work is understanding the fundamental phenomena that control biological interactions at material interfaces.
Titles
Professor, Otolaryngology
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Research Interests
Neurotology, Otology, Tinnitus Management, Balance Disorders, Cochlear implants, Acoustic Neuromas and Skull Base Surgery
- Associate Director, Bioengineering
- Track Director, Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
- Wesley G. Cramer Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Research Interests
Molecular Biomimetics
Bio-nanotechnology
Bio-enabled Materials Science
Titles
Professor, Molecular Bioscience
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials, Bioimaging
Research Interests
Drug discovery
Drug delivery
Cell biology/engineering
Genetic engineering
Nanotechnology