The Sector produces and characterises biomaterials and 3D scaffolds for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, investigating their properties and functionality through in vitro tests with mesenchymal, tumour or differentiated stem cells (e.g. muscle, cardiac, bone, cartilage cells). Mechanical and morphological properties are characterised using non-linear light microscopy (CARS-SHG-TPEF) and AFM techniques.

Particular attention is paid to the engineering of liquid crystalline polymers and hydrogels to prepare cell supports that mimic some of the properties of biological tissues.