Start of funding 01.07.2002

Comparative Study on Biocompatibility of Porous Silicon and Porous InP Surfaces

Prof. Dr. Patrik Schmuki
Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Chair für Surface Science and Corrosion

Dr.-Ing. Thierry Djenizian
Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Chair für Surface Science and Corrosion

Prof. Dr. M. J. Sailor
University of California, San Diego
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Prof. Dr. Sangeeta N. Bhatia
University of California, San Diego
Department of Bioengineering



The research group of Prof. Michael Sailor at the University of California, San Diego, recently produced patterned porous silicon structures with a very high degree of biocompatibility (e.g. for rat liver cells). The research group of Prof. Schmuki at the Department for Materials Science at Friedrich-Alexander University has long standing experience in the preparation of porous III-V semiconductor surfaces. Within the present project the expertise of both partners will be joined to compare the interaction of various semiconductor surfaces with bio-relevant species. It is expected that the common effort will contribute to a more detailed understanding of morphology/chemistry effects on surface binding of biological systems.