In oral and maxillofacial tissue reconstruction autologous bone grafts are known to have superior features when compared to non-autologous bone grafting materials. In order to develop improved bone graft substitutes that are analogous to the native bone, our research focuses on the identification of key factors that can trigger essential signaling cascades within the regenerating bone tissue. To reach this goal, we are using three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques for scaffold engineering and also in vitro cell cultures of primary human bone cells to study how cell behavior is modulated by the molecular and biomechanical microenvironment and the biomaterials´ physicochemical surface properties.

Publications

Rabel K, Kohal R-J, Steinberg T, Tomakidi P, Rolauffs B, Adolfsson E, Palmero P, F ürderer T, Altmann B. Controlling osteoblast morphology and proliferation via surface micro‑topographies of implant biomaterials. Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 30;10(1):12810

Altmann B, Karygianni L, Al-Ahmad A, Butz F, Bächle M, Adolffson E, Fürderer T, Courtois N, Palmero P, Follo M, Chevalier J, Steinberg T, Kohal R. J.(2017). Assessment of Novel Long-Lasting Ceria-Stabilized Zirconia-Based Ceramics with Different Surface Topographies. Adv. Funct. Mater. 40/2017

Altmann B, Rabel K, Kohal RJ, Proksch S, Tomakidi P, Adolfsson E, Bernsmann F, Palmero P, Fürderer T, Steinberg T. (2017). Cellular transcriptional response to zirconia-based implant materials. Dent Mater; 33 (2), 241-255

Tuna T, Wein M, Altmann B, Steinberg T, Fischer J, Att W. Effect of ultraviolet photofunctionalisation on the cell attractiveness of zirconia implant materials. Eur Cell Mater; 2015, 29, 82 – 96

Altmann B, Kohal RJ, Steinberg T, Tomakidi P, Bächle-Haas M, Wennerberg A, Att W. (2013). Distinct Cell Functions of Osteoblasts on UV-Functionalized Titanium- and Zirconia-Based Implant Materials Are Modulated by Surface Topography. Tissue Eng Part C Methods.; 19 (11), 850-63

Kohal RJ, Bächle M, Att W, Chaar S, Altmann B, Renz A, Butz F. Osteoblast and bone tissue response to surface modified zirconia and titanium implant materials. Dent Mater., 2013, 29 (7), 763-76