TARGETED CELLULAR ADHESION AT BIOMATERIAL INTERFACES

The interface of biomaterials must be carefully designed to elicit and eliminate specific responses when placed in contact with the body. Th e interaction of cells with the surfaces of biomaterials is a complex phenomenon that depends on a large number of variables,To design novel biomaterials that possess the desired characteristics, materials scie ntists and engineers rely heavily upon information provided by molecul ar biologists, information regarding cell receptor-ligand interactions is used to understand the role of cellular adhesion in the natural en vironment so that synthetic biomaterials may be developed successfully . The production of new synthetic materials, understanding how native proteins mediate cellular adhesion with these materials, molecularly e ngineering surfaces with controlled spatial patterns for optimal respo nses, evaluation of mechanical properties, and analyzing bioadhesion a nd surface properties of these materials are topics that must be addre ssed when discussing targeted cellular adhesion at biomaterial surface s.