Bio-M&F

Bio -materials & -fabrication

Our research group for biomaterials and biofabrication is led by Dr. Aurelien Forget. We are located in the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg at the Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry within the group of Prof. Dr. Shastri

Our research focuses on developing biomedical applications for seaweed phytocolloids. We have built extensive expertise on hydrogel-forming polysaccharides that are extracted from macroalgae. This knowledge allows us to find solutions for the purification, chemical modification, and processing of these materials into innovative products. While doing this we are furthering our fundamental understanding of the hydrogel formation principle of natural polysaccharides.

See our research and publication section. to find out more about our work.

BLOG

Research projects

From the sea to the hospital

Fueled by a passion for marine polysaccharides we are focusing on finding high-added-value applications for these fascinating materials. How they form hydrogels, how we can purify them and processed them into successful biomedical applications.

Polysaccharides purification

Extracting polysaccharides from crude fraction and purification into sterile non-pyrogenic materials.

Hydrogel properties

Using analytical methods we investigate the fundamental principles of hydrogel formation mechanisms.

Chemical modification

Using novel chemistries we modify natural polysaccharides to extend their range of application.

Polysaccharides processing

We are using the whole arsenal of biofabrication techniques to create new hydrogel processing methods.

Biomedical applications

From medical devices to tissue engineering we are interested in finding biomaterials-based solutions to current biomedical challenges.

LIST OF PUBLICATION

Offered Courses

Classes offered at the Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry

Methods and concepts in biofabrication

Summer Semester

LECTURE

The term biofabrication is defined as the automated generation of biologically functional products with structural organization from living cells and biomaterials through assembly and subsequent tissue maturation processes. This course covers the different biomaterials based strategies used to create artificial living tissues, and the participants will learn the basic techniques and skills required to comprehend this highly active field of science. Participants will be graded on a project presentation. This group presentation will be developed during the weekly workshops where the required soft skills to deliver professional, scientific presentations will be covered

Course Materials on ILIAS

Methods for Applications of polymers in Life Sciences

Summer Semester

The implementation of materials in life sciences requires a multidisciplinary skill set. This series of lab modules will cover the synthesis, characterization and application of synthetic and natural biodegradable polymers for drug delivery, cell delivery and cell targeted therapies. The participants will be exposed to specific analytical techniques and characterization methods such as dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, cell culture, fluorescent and light microscopy and rheology, that are critical for biomaterials research.

Course Materials on ILIAS

MC01 Introduction to polymer - Tutorials

Winter Semester

Tutorials for the Macromolecular Chemistry 1 lecture. Exercises to assimilate the concepts and formula learned during the lecture are proposed and discussed in class.

Tutorials materials on ILIAS