Biomaterials

The field of biomaterials encompasses the design, synthesis and study of natural or synthetic materials to either detect disease or repair, restore or replace lost function. While biomaterials have been around since the beginning of medicine, knowledge of how the body interacts with implanted materials has grown exponentially. This, in turn, has transformed the field from one where any surgically available materials were used indiscriminately to precise selection of biocompatible materials.

Recent advances have moved beyond passive biomaterials that are walled off by the body to ones that actively participate in the body's efforts to repair itself. Such biomimetic and bioactive materials are designed to more accurately interact with the body's natural structures and functions, from macro to micro to nano and molecular levels.

Materials-related research in the Department of Biomedical Engineering focuses on four main areas:

Nanomedicine – Creation of nano and micro platforms that deliver therapeutic payloads and respond to delivery stimulus. Applications include imaging agents, vaccines and immunotherapies.

Biomedical Devices – Using structure/function relationships and bio-inspired approaches to develop new categories of biomaterials that better sense and/or mimic their biological environment and are capable of changing to meet the clinical need.

Drug Delivery – Developing a better understanding of therapeutic delivery to create clinically relevant delivery profiles, in situ reloading and targeted delivery. Applications include cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, inflammation and ophthalmological diseases.

Tissue Engineering – Combining stem cell and biomolecule delivery approaches to create tissues in vitro and promote their integration and repair in vivo. Applications include cardiovascular, orthopedic and neural tissues.

Affiliated Labs and Centers 

Faculty

Associated Faculty

Name Title Contact Information

Akkus, Ozan

Associate Professor

Case Western Reserve University

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Phone: 216.368.4175

Fax: .216.368.4969

Email: ozan.akkus@case.edu

Baskaran, Harihara

Associate Professor

Case School of Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Phone: 216.368.1029

Fax: .216.368.3016

Email: harihara@case.edu

Caplan, Arnold

Professor

Case Western Reserve University

Department of Biology, Mail

Phone: 216.368.3562

Fax: .216.368.4077

Email: arnold.caplan@case.edu

Derwin, Kathleen

Assistant Professor

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

BME, Molecular Medicine

Phone: 216.445.5982

Fax: .216.444.9198

Email: derwink@ccf.org

Exner, Agata A.

Associate Professor

University Hospitals

Department of Radiology

Phone: 216.844.3544

Fax: 216.844.5922

Email: agata.exner@case.edu

Graham, Linda M.

Professor

Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Department of Vascular Surgery

Phone: 216.445.3298

Fax: 216.444.9198

Email: grahaml@ccf.org

Gurkan, Umut

Assistant Professor

Case Western Reserve University

Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Phone: 216.368.6447

Email: umut.gurkan@case.edu

Kottke-Marchant, Kandice

Professor

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

Clinical Pathology

Phone: 216.444.2484

Fax: 216.445.9444

Email: marchak@ccf.org

Landis, William J.

Adjunct Professor

University Of Akron

Goodyear Polymer Center

Phone: 330.972.8483

Fax: 330.972.5290

Email: wlandis@uakron.edu

Muschler, George F.

Professor

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

Orthopaedics, Molecular Medicine

Phone: 216.444.5338

Fax: 216.445.6574

Email: muschlg@ccf.org

Rimnac, Clare

Professor

Case School of Engineering

Mechanical Aerospace Engineering

Phone: 216.368.6442

Fax: 216.368.3007

Email: clare.rimnac@case.edu

Rowan, Stuart J.

Professor

Case School of Engineering

Macromolecular Science and Engineering, EMAC

Phone: 216.368.4242

Fax: 216.368.4202

Email: stuart.rowan@case.edu

Zborowski, Maciej

Associate Professor

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

BME, Molecular Medicine

Phone: 216.445.9330

Fax: 216.444.9198

Email: zborowm@ccf.org

Ziats, Nicholas P.

Associate Professor

University Hospitals

Pathology

Phone: 216.368.5176

Fax: 216.844.8004

Email: nicholas.ziats@case.edu