Annual Report 2016 - Mechanical Engineering

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176 Biomechanics
Biomechanics
Biological (hybrid-)materials and bio-interfaces
Prof. Dr. Oliver Lieleg
n The mission of the Biomechanics Group is to:
1. discover new, to date unknown material properties of biopolymer
materials and biological interfaces;
2. identify the microscopic principles that govern those material properties
(mechanics, permeability);
3. apply those principles to create biomimetic materials for biomedical or
technical applications.
arbeitsgruppen/
biologische-hydrogele
Phone +49.89.289.10952
Contact
The studied biomaterials range from very
soft gels such as mucus and biofilms to
stiff tissues such as cartilage. Accordingly,
a broad variety of characterization meth-
ods is used in the Biomechanics Group.
Biomedical questions addressed include
understanding the wetting resistance of
bacterial biofilms and developing surface
modifications by biopolymers to reduce
friction and wear on biological tissues.
In our highly interdisciplinary projects, we
work together with chemists, pharmacists,
physicists and medical researchers to
generate, characterize and optimize exis-
ting and novel biopolymer-based materials
and to test their applicability for biomed-
ical or industrial purposes. Highlights in
the year 2016 were the development of
water-resistant hybrid mortar for sustain-
able construction applications and the
development of an anti-bacterial wound-
gel which autonomously solidifies upon
contact with the warm body surface.
Biotribology and lubrication
We are studying the mechanical and
tribological properties of cartilage. By
exploiting loss and gain of function
experiments, we aim to understand what
molecular components are responsible for
the outstanding mechanical properties of
cartilage and which lubricants minimize
friction and wear. Moreover, we examine
the effectiveness of different biopoly-
mers as a lubricant on cartilage or other
surfaces.
Project
n LURACS within the framework of the
IGSSE focus area ‘BIOMATERIALS’
Custom-made sample holders for cartilage rheology and tribology
(Bio-)Hybrid-Materials
Many biomolecules offer outstanding
properties but cannot be used in medical/
technical applications on their own. Thus,
we develop hybrid materials where we
either mix biological molecules in new
combinations or add biological compo-
nents to inorganic/synthetic materials.
Cover of publication ‘Advanced
Materials’
Two examples for such hybrid-materials
are a mucin/methylcellulose gel for
applications in wound treatment and a
bio-hybrid mortar that obtained water-re-
pellent properties by the addition of a
biological substance.