AVS 51st International Symposium
    Applied Surface Science Wednesday Sessions
       Session AS+BI-WeA

Invited Paper AS+BI-WeA2
Functional Molecular Surfaces for Healthcare - Characterisation, Analysis and Understanding

Wednesday, November 17, 2004, 2:20 pm, Room 210A

Session: Biological Applications of Surface Analysis
Presenter: M.C. Davies, University of Nottingham, UK
Authors: M.C. Davies, University of Nottingham, UK
S.J.B. Tender, University of Nottingham, UK
P.M. Williams, University of Nottingham, UK
C.J. Roberts, University of Nottingham, UK
S. Allen, University of Nottingham, UK
Correspondent: Click to Email
The characterisation of the surface structure of both conventional and advanced biomedical systems can be an important step in understanding the performance and optimising the function of such healthcare devices. A number of advanced biophysical analytical techniques have emerged for the study of pharmaceutical and biomedical systems. In this talk, we shall explore the role of these analytical tools as complimentary techniques, in the study of surface structure and function of advanced polymeric materials. The value and limitations of visualisation of surface topography and morphology of polymeric devices will be discussed and will include the condensation of polymeric constructs for gene therapy to the single molecule imaging of micro-patterned proteins on nanoengineered tissue-engineering substracts. The role of the force microscope in determining interparticulate and inter-molecular forces in order to explore its potential for the study of biomolecular interactions at polymer interfaces through to the macromolecular stimuli response hydrogels will be reviewed. The potential of the biophysical methodology of high-resolution imaging and force spectroscopy to aid research in biorecognition, development of gene delivery systems and understanding interparticulate and molecular forces, will be highlighted. The ability to identify the chemical structure of the molecules laterally across of a surface for both model and complex multiplayer patterned macromolecular assemblies shows promise but faces major challenges to low surface density ligands and high throughput array systems. The need for new approaches for handling large data sets of surface information and their relationship to surface functionality remains a significant challenge. The talk will aim to provide an objective assessment of current status, future challenges and opportunities.