Engineering of future innovative and smart hybrid materials by combining laser-functionalized metals and living cells (LaserInSMArT)

Development of new biomaterials is of great importance for patients and has significant impact on European healthcare. Currently, the biomedical field relies on the use of non-smart biomaterials that are based on the traditional categories of polymers, metals, ceramics, and their composites. They suffer limitations resulting in lack of biospecificity (e.g., biosensing) and reduced longevity that is important for medical implants. To develop new biomimetic and bioresponsive biomaterials, and thereby fill this gap, a deep understanding of tissue/cell-biomaterial interaction is still needed. LaserInSMArT will clarify how the surface chemistry and topography influence the interaction between the surface and biological cells. This we will achieve by developing of smart, specifically tailored hybrid materials, which will be comprised of a combination of functionalized metallic surfaces and living cells. We will engineer the hybrid materials with the goal of combining bulk metals with desired mechanical properties and the autonomous, adaptive, and self-healing characteristics of living organisms. In this way, the developed materials will be able to detect external signals and respond via remodelling, implement patterning across different length scales, and organize inorganic compounds to create biotic-abiotic composites. We will seek the inspiration for developing hybrids in natural biological systems, such as biofilms, skeletal tissues, and shells, which exhibit great examples of combining non-living and living components. LaserInSMArT will use laser material engineering that we have developed within our previous research projects (Z2-9215; J2-7196; J2-1741; and J2-1729). By using a flexible, scalable and chemical–free additive manufacturing process, we will produce three-dimensional (3D) shapes with appropriate porous structure from conventional metals. These metal alloys will be (i) non-toxic; (ii) easy to recycle to ensure sustainability; and (iii) exhibiting appropriate mechanical properties. We will start with conventional metals/metal alloys (stainless steel, Ti, FeMn and Mg) that are already widely used in biomedical applications because of their favorable properties, including high strength, good fracture resistance, electrical conductivity and formability. However, these materials offer only limited options for interaction with biological cells – a functionality which is important in the development of hybrid materials. A variety of cellular functions, such as adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation importantly depend on surface interaction at the cell–biomaterial interface. Thus, the surfaces of 3D samples will be further functionalized using laser texturing that has been proven as one of the most promising paramount methods in this field. Results of the study about interaction between the functionalized surfaces and the cells will enable us to tailor specific patterns of biological cells (e.g., osteoblast, stem, and endothelial cells) on the functionalized metallic surfaces. Furthermore, they will enable to study how these patterns grow in a laboratory environment. The project results will allow us to tailor smart hybrid materials that will improve the biocompatibility of medical implants and will be able to emulate the natural systems. The developed approaches for the fabrication of smart hybrids will open new possibilities for research of interactions between surfaces and living microorganisms, light, other electromagnetic fields, molecules and atoms.