Diego Mantovani

Professor in biomaterials, scientist in regenerative medicine, holder of the Canada Research Chair Tier I in Biomaterials and Bioengineering for Innovation in Surgery, Diego Mantovani is a recognized expert in biomaterials for regenerative and reparative medicine. He was elected a fellow of the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials in 2012, the American Society for Materials International in 2016, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2019, and the Canadian Academy of Engineering in 2020. He served as the co-executive chair of the 10th World Biomaterials Congress held in Montreal, Canada, in May 2016. He is an advisory member of three medical device consortia in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

With his team, he works in the field of nano-coatings, biodegradable metals, and 3D cell culture structures to develop in vitro tests composed of human tissue alternatives to in vivo (animal) tests. With the goal of improving the clinical performance of implants, devices, and biomaterials, the laboratory members engage in research and development projects that integrate engineering and life sciences to enhance the quality of life for patients. In collaboration with experts in complementary fields and in partnership with surgical device companies, they develop new strategies for future clinical therapies. The focus is on cardiac, peripheral, cerebral, dental, and parenchymal tissues.

In the laboratory, we work around the following four platforms: 1) modification and surface characterization of implants using atmospheric pressure and low-pressure plasma methods; 2) mechanical and micromechanical characterization of elastic and viscoelastic properties of implants; 3) validation of the biological and microbiological (antibacterial) performance of newly developed materials and surfaces to predict the clinical performance of the next generation of surgical implants; 4) shaping and development of new biodegradable metal alloys capable of integrating and regenerating tissues and organs in situ.

In a stimulating blend of cultures and diverse backgrounds, laboratory members (students, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral fellows, visiting researchers, and research associates) work daily in bioengineering at the interface of physics, chemistry, biology, and life sciences. The laboratory is based at the Hôpital St. François d’Assise, at the research center of the CHU de Québec/Université Laval, in the beautiful northern city of Quebec, designated as a UNESCO treasure, in the French-speaking part of Canada.