Sumitomo Rubber and Kyushu University establish Endowed Research Department for Polymeric Biomaterials

Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (President and CEO: Satoru Yamamoto) and Kyushu University (President: Tatsuro Ishibashi) are pleased to announce that the Endowed Research Department^*1 for Polymeric Biomaterials was established at Kyushu University on June 1. This academic-industry partnership will further accelerate research and development for advancing medical technologies, including regenerative medicine.

Both parties have previously collaborated with research on technology for functional synthetic polymers^*2 (polymeric biomaterials).

The establishment of this research department serves two main purposes. First, the department aims to advance research in the design and synthesis of high-performance specialized polymers to control the adhesive properties of specific cells. Secondly, the department intends to elucidate the interactions between cells, proteins, and polymers by advancing cutting-edge nano-bio plane analysis. This technique uses a nano-sized sensor to examine molecular interactions on the surface where cells adhere. The department will contribute significantly to the study and research of polymeric biomaterials that can be used in broad areas, such as medical care and bioanalysis.

This collaborative project will enable the integration of three areas of research and development: organic/polymeric synthesis,^*3 bio-interfacial analysis,^*4 and cell engineering.^*5 The department will promote research on applications for medical technologies, including regenerative medicine. By doing so, we aim to contribute to the further advancement of medical technologies, a crucial factor in addressing the needs of increasingly aging populations around the world.^*6

[Research department overview]

*1 An endowed research department is a department administered by a university, an institute, or other organization, which conducts research using donations from companies and individuals

*2 Functional synthetic polymers are polymers that have been designed to exhibit specific, useful properties or functions, such as the ability to be used in living organisms.

*3 Polymeric synthesis is a chemical reaction that reacts many identical molecule units called monomers together to synthesize a polymer, which has a high molecular weight

*4 Bio-interfacial analysis is an analysis of a chemical reaction where biomaterials, biomolecules, or other substances interact with each other

*5 Cell engineering technology integrates knowledge from molecular biology, biochemistry, and materials engineering to reproduce and analyze events that occur in the living body

*6 Source: The Cabinet Office. (2020). [Global trends in ageing populations] (Japanese)