Lizbeth Grøndahl
  1. Current research activities

    2. Research interests are in the area of biomaterials for bone repair and involve development of novel materials as well as surface modification of materials currently used in the human body. General research focuses on:


    • Surface modification of polymeric membranes used in guided bone regeneration and facial augmentation. Surface modifications are currently done on PTFE membranes using gamma-irradiation induced grafting to introduce functional groups. In vitro testing using macrophages and osteoblast cells as well as non-cellular protein adhesion and simulated body fluid.
    • Production of drug delivery devices for accelerated bone regeneration. Currently encapsulating bone-specific heparan sulphate biomolecules in biodegradable polyesters microcapsules. Testing effect of different release profiles on osteoblast growth in vitro.
    • Development of composite materials with optimal structural and surface properties for use as load-bearing bone biomaterials. Several areas are under investigation; optimisation of mechanical properties through stabilising reinforcing phase in polymer matrix, developing novel methods for production of designed porosity, surface modification of material with the aim of covalently linking heparan sulphate biomolecules. In vitro studies using a combination of cell types; osteoblast, osteoclast, and macrophages.
    • Synthesis and characterisation of fluoride-substituted hydroxyapatite. Detailed spectroscopic studies of these inorganic biomaterials.

  2. Keywords

    3. composite materials, cell-material interactions, bone repair, drug delivery, hydroxyapatite, polymers, surface modifications, surface analysis.

  3. End-user applications

    • Facial augmentation (Maxillofacial surgery)
    • Drug delivery in non-union bone fractures (Orthopedic surgery)
    • Load-bearing implant in non-union bone fractures (Orthopedic surgery)

  4. Key publications

    5. I. M. Wei, T. Bostrom, L. Grøndahl, J. H. Evans: “Synthesis and Characterisation of Hydroxyapatite, Fluoride-Substituted Hydroxyapatite and Fluorapatite” (J. Mater. Sci., Mater. Med. (2003) 14, 311-320).
    II. L. Grøndahl, T. Bostrom, F. Cardona, K. Chiem, E. Wentrup-Byrne: "Calcium Phosphate Nucleation on Surface-Modified Polytetrafluoroethylene Membranes" (J. Mater. Sci., Mater. Med. (2003) 14, 503-510).
    III. III. L. Grøndahl, F. Cardona, K. Chiem, E. Wentrup-Byrne: "Preparation and Characterisation of the Copolymers Obtained by Grafting of Monoacryloxyethyl Phosphate onto Polytetrafluoroethylene Membranes and Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) Films" (J. Appl. Polym. Sci. (2002) 86, 2550).
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  5. Outreach activities

    6. 15 Jan 2003 Leo Howard Vacation School – Lecture to high school students, University of Queensland, Title: ”Let’s build bone”

    Lecturing at Context Based Learning Chemistry Workshop to high school teachers, School of Education, UQ, May and July 2002, and June and August 2003.

    Workshop on Tissue Engineering in “BioFutures”, QUT – lecture to high school students, July 2003

    Lecture given at the national teachers conference Conasta, July 2003,
    title: “Materials for Life: Bone Biomaterials”

  6. Key organisation membership

    7. Australian Society for Biomaterials Inc

  7. Early career researcher?

    8. No.

  8. Young investigator?

    9. No.

  9. Skills and expertise

    • Biomaterials surface modification
    • synthesis of apatites
    • Biomaterial surface characterization
    • FTIR/XRD characterization of apatites
    • XPS
    • FTIR characterization of surfaces
    • Gamma irradiation induced grafting
    • Plasma induced modification of polymers

  10. Specialist equipment and infrastructure

    • XRD (Bruker AXS X-ray diffractometer)
    • XPS (Kratos Analytical AXIS ULTRA Imaging X-ray Photoelectron spectrometer)
    • Gamma cells (radiation source Cobalt-60)

© 2004

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