The BioInterface Group

The BioInterface Group is composed of three teams:

• The Biomedical Interfaces Group
• The Dynamic BioInterfaces Group
• The Functional BioInterfaces Group

Group Mission:

The BioInterfaceGroup at the ETHZ is devoted to the study and development of surfaces for the biomaterial and biosensor area. Through the design, fabrication and characterization of surfaces with well-controlled multifunctional properties we aim at contributing both to a better understanding of fundamental aspects of surface properties and technology and to the development of novel surfaces and interfaces with improved performance in bio-related applications. We are particularly interested in understanding underlying surface phenomena and in modeling of surface processes in as much as they help designing surfaces based on scientific principles and exploiting the techniques in an objective-driven, focussed manner. We also aim at a good balance across the group between basic research studies, methodology developments, enabling technology creation and product-oriented developments.

Our objective is to develop and master a reasonably broad expertise in surface modification techniques in order to cope with the highly divergent requirements for surface properties in biomedical applications. Emphasis is currently on chemical, electrochemical and molecular assembly methods with a focus on techniques that have the necessary qualities for reproducible fabrication and potential upscaling and for future application in an industrial environment.

Using a variety of dedicated surface characterization techniques (XPS, AES, FTIR, ToF-SIMS, fluorescence microscopy, ellipsometry, AFM, laser profilometry, stereo-SEM) we are able to learn in detail about the analytical, physico-chemical, biochemical, topographical and morphological properties of surfaces and to correlate these with performance data. Of particular importance to our team are techniques that allow us to study in situ and in real time the dynamics of surface processes, such as biomolecule adsorption, specific antibody-antigen recognition processes and cell-surface interactions. Presently, these are the Optical Waveguide Lightmode Spectroscopy (OWLS), the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM), the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), and quantitative Fluorescence Microscopy (FM) techniques (the latter in collaboration with the group of Prof. G. Danuser, ETHZ-MAVT). We aim at being able to monitor–in biologically relevant fluids–surface processes with high surface and detection sensitivity, high chemical/biochemical specificity and with both spatial and time resolution. We want to achieve this goal by either combining information gained by different, complementary techniques (e.g., OWLS, QCM) or by developing, with the help of research partners, new techniques that combine these requirements (e.g. in situ evanescent-field induced fluorescence microscopy).

For both the biomaterial and bioaffinity sensor area, our desire is to monitor, understand and steer surface processes on a molecular or nanometer scale. Our approach is synergistic in the sense that bioaffinity sensing techniques allow proof-of-concept testing of novel surfaces in vitro, with the vision that the knowledge gained form biosensor surface development may later be transferred and adapted to the more complex situation of biomaterials and implant surfaces and biological interfaces. The motivation in the biomaterial area is based on our believe that future biomedical devices will exploit materials and surfaces that are designed on the basis of engineering principles more closely related to nature than is typically the case today. Contributing to developments that satisfy clinical and diagnostic needs in the future, and by that helping people, remains the ultimate goal of our group.

We realize that our activities in this highly interdisciplinary field of biomaterials and biosensors can only have an impact in the context of collaborations with other academic partners in research and clinical development, and with industry. We are proud of being part of a national and international network, cooperating with partners in material science, physics, chemistry, biology and medicine and collaborating closely with several companies that are active in the medical implant and bioanalytical market. In order to be able to fulfill our responsibilities in such networks with the necessary commitment and quality, we concentrate on a small number of selected academic and industrial partnerships across the relevant fields. Every group member is involved in such partnerships; personal communication and commitment when collaborating with these partners have high priority.

This active network also gives excellent opportunities for our young team of undergraduate, Ph.D. and postdoctoral students to get trained in adjacent scientific fields, to widen their horizon and to strengthen their social competence. We deliberately seek heterogeneity within the group, both in terms of scientific expertise (spanning the disciplines physics, chemistry, material science and biochemistry), gender and diversity in lingual and cultural backgrounds. Each member recognizes that our envisaged success and impact requires a delicate balance of individual performance and excellence, and of sharing responsibility for the group as a whole. Openness to other views and styles, helping and training the younger and the less experienced members of the group, as well as active communication and diffusion of knowledge within the group and to the outside world is strongly supported. Delegation of responsibility to group members within a frame defined by project objectives, partnerships and financial budgets is envisaged on all levels to encourage and foster personal initiative, development of skills and self-discipline. The group climate should always be based on a general tolerance towards making faults, recognizing and learning from them, accepting criticism and thereby improving the strengths and skills of each member and of the group as a whole.

My team members are devoted to quality and aim at jointly contributing to building up a quality system that is adequate for an academic environment and tailored to our particular needs and tasks. It has to allow for the necessary freedom of approaches in basic research projects, and at the same time to guarantee the necessary degree of control and backtracability of scientific results, the more important the closer the work is related to product development, animal studies and clinical testing. We are aware of the responsibilities we all have towards nature, in general, and in particular when it comes to our contributions to animal studies and clinical trials at our partners’ institutions.