ICMAB PERIODICAL LECTURE

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Speaker: Mª Pau Ginebra, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain

Abstract: In recent years, the development of biomimetic calcium phosphates has opened up new possibilities in the field of bone regeneration. Rather than following the traditional production routes for ceramic materials, they are obtained by low-temperature dissolution-precipitation reactions that mimic the biomineralisation phenomena that occur in our bones. The result is a material with a composition, morphology and crystallinity much closer to the biological mineral phase than traditional sintered ceramics.

One of the key advantages of biomimetic processing is that it allows the nanostructure of the resulting materials to be tuned. We have shown that tuning the nanostructure of biomimetic apatites is an effective way to control the response of eukaryotic cells involved in the bone regeneration process, including immune cells, osteoclasts, mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells. In general, nano-needles promote a more favourable environment for osteoblast differentiation and osteoinduction.

Moreover, tailoring the crystalline morphogenesis in the hydrolysis process opens also the possibility of designing bactericidal surfaces. In addition, the biomimetic low temperature processing methods are compatible with advanced manufacturing technologies such as 3D printing or foam templating, which allow control of the pore architecture, opening up new possibilities for the design of high-performance customized bioceramics for bone regeneration.

Short Bio: Maria-Pau Ginebra is Full Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) in Barcelona, where she heads the Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group. She is the Scientific Director of the Maria de Maeztu Unit of Excellence at the Barcelona Research Centre in Multiscale Science and Engineering (2024-2030). She is also a research associate at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC). Her research focuses on the development of new biomaterials for tissue engineering and controlled drug delivery, with special emphasis on bone regeneration and antimicrobial strategies. She has made pioneering contributions to the development of bio-inspired ceramics and 3D printing of implants for regenerative medicine.

She has led numerous competitive projects, including the ERC Advanced Grant BAMBBI, as well as translational projects to the clinic and industry. In 2013 she founded the spin-off company Mimetis Biomaterials. She has authored more than 300 scientific articles. She received the ICREA Academia Award in four consecutive editions and the Narcís Monturiol Medal in 2012, both from the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2013 she received the Racquel LeGeros Award from the International Society for Ceramics in Medicine, in 2019 the Klaas de Groot Award from the European Society for Biomaterials and in 2024 the National Award from the Spanish Materials Society (SOCIEMAT) and the Spanish Chapter of the American Ceramic Society. She is a Fellow Biomaterials Science and Engineering (FBSE) of the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering (IUSBSE). Dr. Ginebra is President of the Research Evaluation Committee and a member of the Governing Council of the Agency for the Quality of the University Systems of Catalonia (AQU Catalunya).

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