At the 9th Thuringian Biomaterial Colloquium in Zeulenroda-Triebes, M. Sc. Sina Schönwälder was awarded the first poster prize. The main focuses of the Biomaterial Colloquium 2013 were intelligent implant materials (Smart Biomaterials), functional and structured hydrogels in biomedicine and bioanalytics as well as new materials for cell and tissue regeneration.

In Mrs. Schönwälder's work, gelatine-based hydrogels were synthesized and physically and chemically characterized. Using the QCM-D (Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring) and the SPR (Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy) technique, the protein adsorption and the adsorption kinetics of thin hydrogel films were investigated.

This in-depth characterisation of the interaction between the hydrogel surface and the proteins used showed good properties for the possible application of this biomimetic material in regenerative medicine. The work is part of the project "Macroscopic Implants" in the portfolio topic "Technology and Medicine".