The problem of degradation of organic and toxic wastes using immobilized enzymes, instead of microbes is being looked at. These materials are potentially able to work in cell-free systems where reaction velocities are high. We are currently doing enzymatic studies for the removal of aromatics in wastewater. Most synthetic biomedical materials are recognized as foreign in the human body and become isolated in a fibrous capsule when implanted. A few synthetic materials, however, are said to be bioactive, forming a direct bond with tissue.
Bioactive glass is such a material.
Bioactive glass promotes bone formation and forms a direct bond with bone when implanted. The mechanisms of this bioactivity are still under investigation and improvements are needed for these materials to have widespread biomedical application. Work in Dr. Lochhead's group focuses on improving bioactivity by carefully controlling the micro- and nanostructure of the materials. An in vitro apatite crystallization assay is used to assess bioactivity and we use optical and electron microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy to characterize our materials. We are currently conducting experiments on deep HDS in collaboration with Prof. Fierro of the Institute of Catalysis, Spain.