Advancing Biomaterials Across Disciplines and Borders
September 2025 was a particularly active month for the Department of Biomaterials, with five oral presentations delivered at prominent international conferences. These meetings brought together experts from academia, industry, and clinical practice to discuss how biomaterials science can address some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare.
At the International Conference on Biofabrication in Warsaw (14–17 September), Torben Hildebrand presented new findings on advanced imaging of engineered bone tissue in his talk, “Contrast-Enhanced Micro-CT for Improved Visualisation of ACP-Engineered Osteoblastic Spheroids.” The study demonstrated how non-destructive, high-resolution micro-CT can visualise cell–material interactions in three dimensions, improving the way tissue-engineered constructs are evaluated in vitro.
In Turin, during the 34th Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB) (7–11 September), Håvard J. Haugen delivered the invited plenary lecture “From Bench to Bedside: Clinical Translation of Synthetic TiO₂ Bone Scaffold.” His presentation addressed the journey from basic materials design to clinical application, focusing on synthetic TiO₂ scaffolds developed at the University of Oslo and their potential to enhance bone regeneration.
The European Association for Osseointegration (EAO) held its 32nd Annual Congress in Monaco (18–20 September), where Håvard gave two oral presentations. The first, “A Comparative Study of Proline-Rich Peptide-Enhanced Hyaluronic Acid Gels Versus Conventional Regenerative Materials in a Porcine Model of Gingival Detachment,” reported results from a preclinical study on peptide-based regenerative hydrogels for gingival healing. The second, “Contrast-Enhanced Micro-CT Imaging of Murine Mandibles: A Multi-Method Approach for Simultaneous Hard and Soft Tissue Analysis,” highlighted the department’s innovation in 3D imaging for periodontal research. In addition to the oral presentations, Chen Cui Skjelbred, Hanna Tiainen, Sadia Khan, and Odd Carsten Koldsland presented a poster on the mechanical impact of ultrasonic debridement on titanium implant surfaces, a topic of major clinical relevance. The study, titled “Alterations in Titanium Implant Surface After Repeated Ultrasonic Scaling,” showed that SLA titanium implants placed in 3D-printed jawbone models coated with simulated biofilm were ultrasonically debrided three times using PEEK, titanium, or steel tips.
Meanwhile, Jana Hlinková represented the department at the 2nd Baltic Symposium on Polymer and (Bio)Materials Science (Baltic BioMat) in Szczecin, Poland (18–19 September). Her talk, “Using Random Fibres to Study Early Stages of Neural Pseudospheroid Formation,” presented new insights into how polymer scaffolds can guide neural tissue organisation—an emerging frontier in biomaterial-based regenerative medicine.
A Growing European Footprint in Biomaterials Research
The September conference programme illustrates the department’s strong European presence and diverse research expertise—from imaging and biofabrication to translational scaffold development and soft tissue regeneration. These presentations not only disseminate the department’s scientific advances but also strengthen collaborative links with leading institutions and research networks across Europe.
“Our department’s participation in these meetings demonstrates the breadth and maturity of our research portfolio,” says Håvard, Head of the Department of Biomaterials. “It also reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that fundamental discoveries in materials science lead to tangible improvements in patient care.”
The Department continues to combine scientific excellence with a strong translational focus, contributing to UiO’s mission of advancing knowledge that benefits society through innovation in health and technology.
