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iba Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques 1. Institution The iba was founded in 1992 following a positive feasibility evaluation by the Scientific Council of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is a non-profit research institute supported by the Thuringia Ministry of Science, Research and Art. The institute is organized in three closely linked Departments: - Analytical Measurement Technology, - Bioprocess Technology and - Biomaterials About 50 scientists, first of all engineers, chemists, physicists and biologists, pay particular attention to applied research and industrial development. The research carried out at the iba is concentrated in the areas of biotechnology, biomedicine and the environment, dealing with aspects lie somewhere between basic research and individual market-oriented research projects. iba's research activities are focused to meet practical needs of clients to improve both their technological as well as their competitive position. To maintain a high level of knowledge and know-how strategic research projects are focused to special problems regarding the interface situation between biomaterials and biosystems. These activities are to a large extent financed by the responsible government. 2. Special Activities of the Department of Biomaterials For a better understanding of the behaviour of materials in biological surroundings, it is important to learn more about the interaction of biological systems on material surfaces. That´s why the fundamental objective of the research of the department of biomaterials are the analysis of interaction phenomena in the contact area between surfaces of artificial and/or natural biomaterials and the adjacent biological environment (biomolecules, microorganisms, cells) to improve the biofunctionality and the biocompatibility of biomaterials. In this context one of the main functions of the specialized department is to study correlations between biocompatibility and measurable material characteristics, making possible predictions about the behaviour of the materials within a biosystem. Examples of this kind of activities are: BIOADHESION: Adhesion properties of cells and cellular models are tested on selected material surfaces. Furthermore protein adsorption is one of the most important areas of interest. In this field iba has developed highly specialized measuring systems. BIOCORROSION: Electrochemical corrosion processes are studied in simulated biological environments. Research is focused on the evaluation of the most important biological factors of influence concerning the biocompatibility of materials. Therefore qualified in-vitro test methods were developed. BIOFOULING: Evaluation and analysis of interactions between superfacial attached microbiological layers, so called biofilms and the underlying substrate. Once again the development of special in-vitro test systems for biofilm monitoring is of importance. BIOMECHANICS: Application of finite element methods including biological oriented routines for design optimization. At iba expertise and experts are available with regard to the numerical evaluation of any kind of implant and medical device design in dependence of stress shielding effects and bone remodeling phenomena. The application of R&D results to develop innovative products together with our partners mainly in the fields of Biomedicine (e.g. implant materials, prosthesis, medical devices) and Biotechnology (membrane technologies, immobilization techniques, biosensoric applications, bioreactors, in-vitro test systems) guarantees the accessibility to the business community in industry, both at home and abroad. In this context iba possess a great competence and specific know-how in the fields of a) Physico-chemical interface characterisation ¢ determination of surface energies and adhesion energies by means of thermodynamic methods ¢ determination of surface charges by electrokinetic methods ¢ determination of surface composition by means of FTIR-studies (Fourier Transformed InfraRed Spectroscopy and Microscopy) and EDX (X-ray Spectroscopy) ¢ determination of interface reactions by means of EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) b) Topographic interface characterisation ¢ roughness measurements ¢ Light Microscopy ¢ SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) ¢ AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) ¢ On-line image processing c) Biological tests ¢ cell culture methods (proliferation, viability, activity) ¢ protein adsorption and desorption (FTIR-, CD-Spectroscopy) ¢ biofilm monitoring ¢ detection of biomolecules ¢ CLSM (Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy) d) Development of in-vitro test systems by means of bioreactors and integration of special test components for controlling of ¢ cell adhesion phenomena ¢ biofilm formation ¢ biomolecule detection ¢ material corrosion / degradation e) Biomechanical investigations by FEM ¢ stress-strain calculations (COSAR , MARC ) ¢ fluid mechanics (FLOTRAN ) ¢ analysis of stress shielding and bone remodeling ¢ biological based design optimization
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