EN Face - micro and nano-scale surface structuring
Cenamps is working closely with the University of Newcastle upon Tyne to develop novel production technologies for three-dimensional and non-planar structuring of material surfaces at the nano and micro scale. These technologies will greatly reduce the need for expensive and labour-intensive photolithography techniques. It is anticipated that this technology will have important applications in the healthcare sector for the fabrication of biocompatible scaffolding for new tissue and cells.
The strategic aim of this project is to develop a prototype electrochemical production tool capable of micro and nano structuring of a variety of materials without necessitating masking and photolithography of the substrate. The technology under development will be able to transfer micro patterns onto a variety of biocompatible materials such as steel, tantalum and titanium.
It can also be applied to texture and activate the substrate surface as well as structuring non-planar surfaces such as cylindrical, spherical and complex surfaces.The specific objectives of the project include:
- The design, fabrication and optimisation of a unique electrochemical machining production tool capable of micro and nano scale structuring of bio-materials
- Demonstration and testing of the prototype for fabricating scaffolding biomaterials for tissue and cell cultures which satisfy medical standards
- Benchmarking the prototype against existing micro and nano fabrication tools
The unique electrochemical platform technology developed in the North East of England is expected to yield a micro- nano production tool that costs considerably less than deploying existing practices for producing scaffolding for tissue engineering.