Dr. Reto Luginbühl
- reto.luginbuehl@unibe.ch
Reto Luginbuehl is head of the group Chemistry and Biology at the RMS Foundation, Switzerland. He received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from the University of Bern in 1993 and 1997, respectively. From 1997 to 2000, he was research associate at the University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials Center in Seattle, WA. In 2001, he joined the RMS Foundation. The group of chemistry and biology is providing services and consulting for interested parties in the field of biocompatibility and cleanliness. Current research foci are in (i) prevention of infections, (ii) engineering scaffolds for cartilage and bone repair, and (iii) instant cell therapies. The risk of bacterial infection (i) is omnipresent with today’s implants and requires novel strategies. The research includes the engineering of coatings with specific properties from synthesis and characterization of novel antimicrobial substances, to the characterization of biofilms and their residues on the surfaces, and the comprehensive chemical, in vitro and in vivo analysis of novel coatings. (ii) Scaffolds engineering for cartilage and bone repair requires understanding of the material-cell/tissue interactions. Research work includes synthesis of mineral, polymers and composite scaffolds for cartilage, their characterization, the chemical modulation of surfaces and impact of size-effects on cells and tissues. (iii) Instant cell therapies are of interest for clinical application since that technology allows for peri-operative harvesting, processing and application of tissues and cells. Work includes refinement of harvesting and processing technologies as well as study of the in vitro and in vivo effects of the processed cell and/or blood fractions. Most of the research is carried out in collaboration with other academic institutions and with industry.