Biosynthetic Polymers for Medical Applications

Professor Poole-Warren was awarded a PhD degree from the University of New South Wales in 1990 and held various appointments at UNSW after joining the academic staff in 1995. These include Associate Dean Research Training and Associate Dean Research in the Faculty of Engineering (2005-2009) and Professor in the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering (2009). She was appointed Dean of Graduate Research in 2010 and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research Training) in 2012.Professor Poole-Warren continues to lead a research group in biomedical engineering focusing on design and understanding of biosynthetic polymers for medical applications. Dr Penny Martens is a Senior Lecturer with the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering. Her research focuses on the use of biosynthetic hydrogels for a variety of biomedical applications, including diabetes treatment, neural electrodes and cartilage repair. Dr Rylie Green is a Research Fellow with the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering. Dr Green’s research has been focused on developing bioactive conducting polymers for application to medical electrodes, with a specific focus on vision prostheses. More recently Dr Green has been exploring hybrids of conducting polymers and hydrogels to reduce strain mismatch with neural tissue and improve long-term cell interactions at the neural interface through drug delivery.

• 1. Introduction to biomedical polymers and biocompatibility 2. Non-degradable polymers for Biomedical applications3. Biodegradable/Bioerodible polymers for medical applications4. Bio-inspired antimicrobial polymers5. Plasma modifications for direct cell growth and response6. Stent coatings for blood compatibility7. Degradable hydrogel systems8. Hydrogels and angiogenesis9. Engineering biosynthetic encapsulation systems10. Conducting Biosynthetic Polymers as Biomaterials 11. Conducting polymers for neural interface applications 12. Degradable Conjugated conducting Polymers and Nerve Guidance