IBN - Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology - A*Star

13ARTIFICIAL ORGANS AND IMPLANTS Research in this area involves engineering structures for useas artificial organs and implants. For orthopedic implants, IBN researchers are developing simplebioprocesses to generate natural bone scaffolds. The resulting anorganic porcine bone greatly facilitatesbone remodelling. Nanocomposite foams have also been reconstituted from natural ingredients of bone.Using highly porous, sponge-like collagen matrix and apatite nanocrystals, IBN has achieved boneimplant materials that are structurally and chemically similar to natural bone, and highly bioactive withtunable mechanical properties and degradation rates. The Institute also conducts research in the areas ofdental and cochlear implants, and seeks to develop flexible systems that can be adjusted to fit therequired defect length. Such implants could also be combined with bioactive compounds and drug or genedelivery systems to provide restorative functions and promote implant integration.MEDICAL DEVICES IBN integrates microfabrication, microfluidics and nanotechnology to develop novelmedical devices, such as biosample preparation and analysis systems, and endovascular microtools forminimally invasive surgery. A microfluidic device has also been developed to study cell migration anddeformation behavior for cancer research. IBN researchers are also working on wearable, implantableand injectable devices. Examples in these areas include smart shirts with microaccelerometers for falldetection, wireless devices to detect and diagnose bruxism, advanced aerosol inhalation devices to treatinfant asthma, telemetry-based implantable systems for electronically controlled drug release, as well asmicroneedle arrays for painless transdermal drug delivery. IBN researchers are also studying discretenanostructures to fabricate gecko-mimicking tape and infrared detectors. In addition, the Institute isworking on biofilm prevention and elimination.BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL IMAGING IBN specializes in the molecular and microscopic imagingof medical systems, biomaterials, biologics, tissues and cells. Imaging is also used as a tool for cellculture and in vitro studies that are critical for testing the viability and biocompatibility of novel materialsand medical devices. In addition, small animal imaging is pursued at IBN to facilitate in vivo studies. Theinstitute conducts research in advanced imaging techniques such as multiphoton microscopy, combinedconfocal and atomic force microscopy, and optical coherence tomography. It also develops novel imagingtags with interesting optical and magnetic properties, such as water-soluble quantum dots, andbioconjugated oxide and metallic nanoparticles.