At the interface of biology, chemistry, and materials science, this book provides an overview of this vibrant research field, treating the seemingly distinct disciplines in a unified way by adopting the common viewpoint of surface science.
The editors, themselves prolific researchers, have assembled here a team of top-notch international scientists who read like a 'who's who' of biomaterials science and engineering. They cover topics ranging from micro- and nanostructuring for imparting functionality in a top-down manner to the bottom-up fabrication of gradient surfaces by self-assembly, from interfaces between biomaterials and living matter to smart, stimuli-responsive surfaces, and from cell and surface mechanics to the elucidation of cell-chip interactions in biomedical devices. As a result, the book explains the complex interplay of cell behavior and the physics and materials science of artificial devices.
Of equal interest to young, ambitious scientists as well as to experienced researchers.

Andreas Taubert is Professor of Supramolecular Chemistry at the University of Potsdam, Germany. After his PhD at the Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz he was a postdoc at the University of Pennsylvania, USA, and then a group leader at the University of Basel, Switzerland. His research interests are bioinspired hybrid materials and materials chemistry with ionic liquids.

Joao F. Mano is Professor at the University of Minho, Portugal, and staff member of the 3B's research group Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics. His research interests include the development of new materials and concepts for biomedical applications. He was awarded the Stimulus to Excellence by the Portuguese Minister for Science and Technology in 2005 and the Materials Science and Technology Prize by the Federation of European Materials Societies in 2007.

Jose Carlos Rodriguez-Cabello is Professor at the University of Valladolid, Spain, and head of the research group 'Biomaterials, Biomimicry, Nanobiotechnology'. His research is focused on design, biosynthesis and characterization of advanced, multifunctional genetically engineered protein-polymers. In 2009, he received the 'Campus Emprende' Award in the category of business venture for a project on new materials for biomedical applications.