Symposium H-Multifunctionality in Polymer-Based Materials, Gels and Interfaces

Polymer research is often motivated by the complex demands of applications. Especially the combination of different functions in one-material-systems is challenging. Apart from the structural function, the degradability, stimuli-sensitivity, biofunctionality or the controlled delivery of substances is required.

Multifunctional materials often feature hybrid structures (e.g. (nano)composites, blends, fibrillar or multilayer constructs) which are further enhanced by the possibility of a hierarchical organization of the structural constituents at various length scales (molecular, nano-, micro-). The latter point encompasses also the molecular control of polymer and composite architectures (dendritic/hyperbranched macromolecules, unimolecular micelles, statistic vs. directed colloidal aggregation, etc.).

Polymer-based materials offer a broad and flexible platform to provide, receive and respond to endogenous signals like chemical, biological and/or physical stimuli. The processes at the biointerface comprise the interaction between cells and the implant surface, contacts between cells and between molecules inside the cells. Cell instructive polymers should modulate cell adherence, migration, nidation, proliferation, cell morphology and function as well as immune response and the healing process. All these aspects are the topic of this interdisciplinary symposium.

Topics will include:

Multifunctionalmaterials
Multi-component complexmaterial systems
Active/stimulisensitive (nano)composites
Shape-memory polymers
Shape-changingpolymers
Supramolecularpolymers
Actively moving (bio)polymers (e.g. biologicaltransporters)
Interaction ofpolymers with proteins and cells
Biological evaluationof polymers
Photosensitivematerials
Stimuli-sensitivepolymers and gels
Self-assembled softmaterials
REDOX and electricalresponsiveness
Artificial muscles
Polymers for imaging
Polymer basedactuators, sensors and switches
Polymerdrugs/prodrugs
Polymer-directedbiological effects
Surfacefunctionalization for biological performance

Invited Speakers:

H_Multifunctionality in Polymer-Based Materials, Gels and Interfaces _0 (ESPCI Paris Tech, France)
H_Multifunctionality in Polymer-Based Materials, Gels and Interfaces _1 (Fudan University, China)
H_Multifunctionality in Polymer-Based Materials, Gels and Interfaces _2 (Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong)
H_Multifunctionality in Polymer-Based Materials, Gels and Interfaces _3 (University of Liège, Belgium)
H_Multifunctionality in Polymer-Based Materials, Gels and Interfaces _4 (Case Western Reserve University, USA)
H_Multifunctionality in Polymer-Based Materials, Gels and Interfaces _5 (Carnegie Mellon University, USA)
H_Multifunctionality in Polymer-Based Materials, Gels and Interfaces _6 (Johns Hopkins University, USA)
H_Multifunctionality in Polymer-Based Materials, Gels and Interfaces _7 (CRPP - CNRS, France)
H_Multifunctionality in Polymer-Based Materials, Gels and Interfaces _8 (Yale University, USA)
H_Multifunctionality in Polymer-Based Materials, Gels and Interfaces _9 (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan)
H_Multifunctionality in Polymer-Based Materials, Gels and Interfaces _10 (Air Force Research Laboratory, USA)
H_Multifunctionality in Polymer-Based Materials, Gels and Interfaces _11 (Tel Aviv University, Israel)