Ever wondered how plastic surgeons sculpt and reconstruct new tissues? Dr Vanessa Hearnden is developing biomaterials that can be used to restore and replace soft tissues when they are lost as a result of surgery, injury or disease.
Our materials are designed to be soft and degradable so that the body can use them as a “scaffold” to replace the lost tissue over time, while maintaining the tissue’s natural feel and function.
To illustrate this research, artist Lynne Chapman has created a large textile sculpture, showing how porous biomaterials interact with cells, fat and blood vessels. Alongside the sculpture you will find examples of the materials being developed.
Millennium Gallery opening times Tuesday–Saturday: 10am–5pm (closed Mondays) Sunday: 11am–4pm
Join us for an interactive talk in the Spiegeltent on Sunday 22 September.