This topic is
being renewed and definitely heads towards Biomedical Engineering.
The following topics were tackled in 2002:
Biomaterials for bone substitutes
A close collaboration between LBBTO (an INSERM unit) at the
Faculty of Medecine in Saint-Etienne (CHU) and SPIN Department
enabled to characterize the constituents (carbonate ions) and
mechanisms allowing bone rebuilding with a biomaterial (hydroxyapatite).
It is essential that the solid used has optimum biomechanical
properties combined with biocompatibility towards the weaker
host-tissue subject to inflammatory and pathological reactions.
Biomodelling
The diagnosis and development of cancers or allergies require a better understanding
of the immune response of a human organism with respect to its
environment. The latter lies essentially on interaction between
T lymphocytes and bearing presenting-antigen cells. The objective
is to determine the memory of our immune system by means of
appropriate mathematical models. They will be developed by biologists
in CHU de Saint-Etienne as well as SPIN physicochemists theoretically
and experimentally.
Biosensors
Study of miniaturized biosensors
for medical applications (measurement of glucose)
using conducting polymers like polythiophenes.
Construction of biosensors using
whole cells (micro-algae) for on-line measurement
of toxic compounds in the environment.
Divisions for Research
and Academic Programs 
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