Symposium BM1: Spatiotemporally and Morphologically-Controlled Biomaterials for Medical Applications

Spatiotemporally and morphologically-controlled (STMC) structures and components are ubiquitous in nature, serving as the central building blocks for many cellular and subcellular units. In a broader context, STMC biomaterials can be defined as materials that mimic biological systems not only in morphology and structure, but also in specificity, configurability, adaptability, and immolation pathways to demonstrate spatiotemporal functional features in response to particular stimuli (e.g. ligand-receptor binding, pH, temperature, or reactions). Over the past decade, efforts have been dedicated to the design, synthesis, functionalization, and applications of these STMC biomaterials in medicines, as well as to the understanding of their interactions with biological systems and the assessment of their long-term safety. Future success in this field will require the integration of knowledge and technology in chemistry, materials, biology, medicine, and engineering. This symposium on the medical applications of STMC biomaterials covers a broad range of research topics from fundamental materials design, to emerging technologies and clinical applications of this class of materials. Symposium attendees with broad science, engineering, and clinical expertise can expect to be exposed to state-of-the-art developments, findings, and inventions in this field.