Adhesion of Macromolecules and Cells to Surfaces: New Challenges

Call for Papers

The development of new biocompatible device's surfaces allows controlling the bioadhesion of biomolecules such as proteins of all types of physiological media. As a consequence, the improvement of devices used for any biological activity, agrofood packaging, and hygienic surrounding is requested. The concept of “biofunctionality and biocompatibility” underlies the whole development and application of biomaterials that must be suitable for clinical use in terms of detection and storage for the diagnostic. With the increasing use of biomaterials and related technologies, the evaluation of biocompatibility is becoming both more important and more challenging. With the purpose to reduce the bioadhesion of proteins and other biomolecules on the surface of supports, several manufacturing processes must be applied whatever the complexity of support geometry (2D or 3D). There is today a greater need than ever before to develop adequate devices suitable for biocompatibility both for in vitro and in vivo manipulations.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the molecular mechanism underlying bioadhesion, the development of new “intelligent” supports avoiding a specific adsorption of biomolecules on their surfaces, physicochemical strategies to develop innovative substrates, and the evaluation of outcomes. We are particularly interested in articles describing the new methods for physicochemical characterization of supports and devices dedicated to storage and detection of biomolecules. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Knowledge of chemical and conformational properties of biomolecules, especially proteins
• Recent developments in biofunctional material engineering
• Advances in physicochemical modifications of supports for biological applications in vitro
• Recent technologies for physicochemical evaluation and measuring outcomes
• Role of supports in biofilm synthesis
• Ageing mechanism of supports, in relation to sterilization and storage conditions
• Role of natural and synthetic polymers in supports modifications
• Recent advances in devices and biocompatibility in vivo

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/bmri/molecular.biology/amc/ according to the following timetable:

Lead Guest Editor

• Benaissa El Moualij, CRPP-Human Histology, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium

Guest Editors

• Ernst Heinen, Human Histology, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
• Fabienne Poncin-Epaillard, Lunam Université, IMMM-PCI, UMR CNRS 6283, Université du Maine, Le Mans, France
• Gilbert Legeay, Surface Chemistry, CTTM Le Mans, 12 rue de l'église 72650 St Saturnin, France
• Willy Zorzi, Human Histology, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium