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Panel Discussions

Panel discussions are a format that foster open debate on a topic. The invited guests include renowned experts in the area of focus and the chair allows time for open discussion with the audience.

The topics for 2007 are:

• Biomaterials and biocompatibility: theories and clinical relevance
• Where have we been and where are we going -Traditional approaches versus Nanotechnologies

Research work in the areas of biomaterials has been marching fast with various new concepts such as biomimetic, stem cells, nanotechnology, and so on. However, in the real world, what we did not know decades ago are still there and we still do not know them today; we still do not have fouling-free surface, we still do not have the materials for small diameter vascular grafts, and we still do not have the orthopedic implant materials that can last longer than ten years.

New concepts may provide opportunities to get new insights into the old problems from different angles, provided that we understand the situations. However, if we ask ourselves the question that how well we understand the old problems, the answer may not be very satisfactory. It is necessary at this moment to review "what are the major reasons for device failure" and "what prevents us from getting breakthroughs in technology developments". Are they because material stability, compatibility, lack of required properties, or lack of nanotechnology? It is also necessary to vision the potentials of both the old-fashioned research and the research driven by the new concepts.

The purpose of this Panel will be to review what we have learned about the old problems and to provide some vision of the potential of both the “old” and “new” research. We plan to invite:

Senior academic experts to review the basics we have learned about the protein adsorption, cell adhesion, calcification, degradation of the materials.

Why adsorption seems not avoidable?

Clinical experts to review what are the main reasons for device failure? materials failures, calcification, foreign body reaction/ fibrosis encapsulation, infection, or others?

Experts active in nano-science, self-assembly, and other new areas to provide vision as to what and why these new sciences are promising.