Implant-associated infections

Despite significant advancements in the field of biomedical engineering, implant-associated infections remain one of the greatest challenges in modern medicine. They can lead to implant loss and, in some medical disciplines, even to life-threatening complications. The development of innovative implant materials or surface functionalizations, which exhibit a long-term anti-biofilm effect with simultaneous good biointegration and at the same time fulfill the clinically relevant conditions of patient specificity, controllability and stability, sets new standards for prevention and therapy. Physical and chemical surface functionalizations are evaluated in static and dynamic biofilm models, 3D tissue models and established in vivo models. In addition, biomarkers based on the latest molecular biology technologies are being developed for early diagnosis and personalized therapy of implant-associated infections. The basis is the biobank BIT (Biofilms, Implants, Tissues) with implant-associated biomaterials from various medical disciplines for the analysis of complex relationships between implants, biofilms and local and systemic inflammatory processes