The Interfacultary Centre of Biomaterials

The Interfacultary Centre of Biomaterials (Centre Interfacultaire des Biomatériaux : CEIB) of the University of Liège (Belgium) belongs to 4 faculties of the University, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Sciences and Applied Sciences.

Research activity:

1. 1. Biomaterials : tissue engineering for bone and soft tissue reconstruction, based on biodegradable polymers. Polymer synthesis and processing. In vitro testing. Possibility of preclinical testing.
2. 2. Drug delivery systems based on synthetic polymers. Micro-nanodrug delivery systems. Formulation optimization, in vitro studies.
3. 3. Analytical services provided to various pharmaceutical/medical companies

Available expertise:

The CEIB offers services and consulting. Its analytical services are related to the :

I.   Physico-chemical and mechanical analysis of materials :

1. 1. Particle size analysis of nano-micron sized materials by Dynamic Light Scattering, Light Diffraction, Coulter Multisizer, microscopy (optical, SEM, TEM)
2. 2. Analysis of the Zeta potential of colloids and of cells with Coulter Beckman DELSA 440 SX
3. 3. Analysis of organic compounds by High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled with several detectors (UV, fluorescent, RI, ELSD, Light Scattering)
4. 4. Analysis of molecular weight of hydrosoluble or hydrophobic macromolecules by Size Exclusion Chromatrography coupled to Multi Angle Light Scattering (SEC-MALS) or RI/UV detection.
5. 5. Morphology analysis of materials by optical or electron microscopies : transmission, reflection microscopes, stereomicroscope, normal and inverse modes. TEM and SEM microscopes.
6. 6. Thermal analysis of materials by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
7. 7. Viscosimetry analysis of liquids, paste with a rotational viscosimeter (cone/plate) and or capillary viscosimeter (Ostwald Viscosimeter)
8. 8. Dynamic Contact Angle Analysis
9. 9. Analysis of the Static Mechanical Properties of Materials

II.  In vitro study of the stability of polymeric materials

III. In vitro hemocompatibility of biomaterials/medical devices adopting normal human blood and according to international standards.

IV. Polymer synthesis - Functionalized polyesters based on polylactide/glycolide or epsilon-caprolactone ; scale : gr to 100 gr - Vinyl polymers produced by living radical polymerization.

Available equipment :

- Polymer synthesis and characterization methodologies (NMR, SEC, DSC, UV/FTIR/RAMAN spectroscopies)

- Other analytical equipments :

• *Coulter Multisizer : size distribution and counting of particles (0.8 to 500 µm)
• *Coulter DELSA : Zeta potential of colloids
• *Size exclusion chromatography coupled to Static light Scattering detector (Dawn and Optilab)
• *Cell culture Facilities and confocal microscopy - Atomic Force Microscopy (Dimension 3100 and Nanoscope IIIa)
• *SEM (+ EDX) ; image analysis software - Molecular biology facilities
• *Patch-clamp facilities
• *Surgery facilities for small animals

Availability for SME's :

These services are performed according to quality controls and adopting certified standards (SOP, check-lists, analysis sheets, reports, with double-check controls). The results are delivered within 7 calendar days after reception of the samples. Urgent samples possible on request.