Fields of Impact
The DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials develops materials with dynamic properties and active functions, following the example of living materials in nature. In order to realize this mission, research at DWI is organized in such a way as to promote the convergence of different scientific disciplines. Scientists from currently six Competences Areas join forces within interdisciplinary research projects that are associated to DWI’s three Fields of Impact, each of them addressing central societal needs: Biomedical Materials, Sustainable Materials, and Information Materials.
The field of biomedical materials is developing rapidly. Modern technologies and the increasing integration of knowledge from various scientific disciplines make it possible to design novel, high-performance biomedical materials.
Biomedical materials are used to replace or repair diseased or injured tissue. Examples include implants such as artificial joints or heart valves, wound dressings and patches, artificial tissues, or blood vessels for the regeneration of damaged tissue. For disease research and the development of new therapies, models such as synthetic tissues of different body parts and organs, as well as complex cellular models, are of immense importance. In addition, advanced approaches enable the development of new active substances and delivery mechanisms.
At DWI, scientists combine their expertise in chemistry, engineering, and biotechnology to develop a wide range of biomedical materials. Many of these materials are inspired by nature and exhibit feedback mechanisms with their environment. Moreover, their properties can be dynamically adjusted through external stimuli – for example, ultrasound – to meet the needs of biological systems or to enhance therapeutic efficacy.
The DWI’s research focuses include the fabrication of ex vivo tissue models for studying diseases, regenerative in vivo medicine, biofunctional coatings for medical devices, spatially and temporally controlled activation of pharmaceutical compounds (APIs), and stimulus-responsive theranostics.
Further key objectives are to improve local drug therapies (through alternative and novel drug-delivery systems) and to develop bioactive substances in ways that minimize the risk of damaging healthy tissue and reduce side effects for patients.
A flagship project in this research area at DWI is TriggerINK, funded by the Werner Siemens Foundation. Its long-term goal is to directly print biomedical materials into cartilage defects in vivo to generate functional and structured cartilage tissue within the body.