Quick and precise testing of implant materials

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On November 14, 2018, the kick-off meeting for a German-Korean ZIM project took place in Hanover. Under the name "ImplantHoloCut", a test method for the immunobiological assessment of implant materials is to be developed over the next three years.

© ImplantHoloCut
The participants of the project (from left to right): Dr. Susanne Kurz (IKTS), Dr. Juliane Spohn (IKTS), Dr. Fabian Will (LLS), Dr. Birgitta Stolze (LLS), Dr. Tae-Young Han (IKTS), Dr. Seon-Oh Lee (HICS), Dr. Daesung Kong (HICS), and Dr. Dominik Differt (LLS).

For this purpose, 3D laser dissection and digital holographic nanoscopy (DHN) will be combined. For the first time, this hybrid technology makes it possible to identify different cell differentiation stages alive and in direct contact on an opaque (non-transparent) material surface. In addition, it is possible to specifically select individual cells for further studies. This allows implant materials – especially biofunctionalized surfaces – to be assessed more reliably with regard to immunological effects.

In addition to Fraunhofer IKTS and LLS ROWIAK LaserLabSolutions GmbH, the Korean companies HICS Inc. and PIXEL Inc. are involved in the project. The Korean partners develop the DHN module, including hardware and software, which will be integrated into an LLS laser dissection system. At the same time, Fraunhofer IKTS establishes a standardized immune cell model for the subsequent validation of the method.

The Zentrale Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM) is a technology and industry open funding program.