FUTURE HEALTH
LABORATORY
FOR ADVANCED BIOMATERIALS & MATRIX ENGINEERING ( LAB & ME )
Creating innovative material solutions to transform biological and medical discovery
RESEARCH GROUP
The materials used in biomedical discovery have not changed significantly over the last century . Plastic dishes and animal-derived coatings continue to dominate .
LAB & ME has developed new materials and devices that are poised to transform biotechnology and biomedical research . From reagents for tissue culture to miniaturised devices for drug discovery , LAB & ME is working to transform the biomedical and health sectors .
For example , a novel hydrogel was developed that could replace animalderived materials in research , emulating the function of natural materials from a purely synthetic source . As another example , gas-modulating microcapsules were created to control oxygen levels in tissue culture , thereby obviating the need for expensive hypoxic chambers . Provisional patents have been filed for these technologies and the team is currently exploring industrial partnerships .
> Trpzip matrix supports cell and tissue growth comparable to animalderived matrices , with potential for use in biology research , 3D biofabrication and medical procedures .
> Hypoxycap facilitates gradients of oxygen to be formed , with scope for use in tissue culture , body-on-achip devices , anaerobic bacterial collection , and industrial processes .
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