The Stevens Group

The Stevens group is developing biomaterials based on strontium and other ions for applications in bone and cartilage regeneration. The Stevens group has shown that such bioactive glasses support normal cell attachment and adhesion [ O'Donnell, Candarlioglu, Miller, Gentleman and Stevens, 2010] whilst they increase proliferation and alkaline phosph... atase activity of cultured osteoblasts (anabolic effect) and inhibit osteoclast activity by reducing tartrate resistant acid phosphatase activity (anti-catabolic effect) [Gentleman, Fredholm, Jell, Lotfibakhshaiesh, O'Donnell, Hill and Stevens, 2010]. Hydrogels constitute a major class of biomaterials because their physical and chemical properties often mimic those of the native extracellular matrix tissues. The Stevens group has developed a number of innovative hydrogel designs for applications in cartilage [ Place, Nair, Chia, Szulgit, Lim and Stevens, 2012] and bone [Place, Rojo, Gentleman, Sardinha and Stevens, 2011], whilst fibrous scaffolds have also been developed with a number of clinical targets [Dong, Yong, Liao, Chan, Stevens and Ramakrishna, 2010; McCullen, Autefage, Callanan, Gentleman and Stevens, 2012; Gentilini, Dong, May, Goldoni, Clarke, Lee, Pashuck and Stevens, 2012; Chung, Gentilini, Callanan, Hedegaard, Hassing and Stevens, 2013]. We are now also working very actively on the development of new materials for cardiac regeneration within the British Heart Foundation centre of excellence at Imperial College. Important aspects regarding their translation to the clinic include surpassing scientific, regulatory and business challenges [Pashuck and Stevens, 2012].Read More