Dr. Maria Chatzinikolaidou, FBSE, FTERM, FIAMBE, is a Professor of Biomaterials in Bioengineering and Head of the Laboratory for Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Crete, and affiliated faculty member at the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH). Her research activities focus on the development of biomaterials and scaffolds for tissue engineering applications including bone, cartilage, dental, cardiovascular, skin, and the validation of their in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility, functionality and biomechanical characteristics. Her work has led to the development of novel orthopaedic and dental biomaterials and medical devices, and tunable biomaterial platforms that control specific physiological processes for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, using the fundamentals of biological sciences and engineering.

Education

• Ph.D in Biochemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
• B.Sc. in Chemistry, University of Essen, Germany

Career

• Since July 2024, Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Crete, Greece
• 2019 - 2024, Associate Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Crete, Greece
• 2010 - 2018, Assistant Professor (tenured in 2014), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Crete, Greece
• 2007 - 2010, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Crete, Greece
• 2006 - 2008, post-doctoral fellow, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), FORTH, Greece
• 2004 - 2006, post-doctoral associate at the University Medical School of Essen, Germany

Interests

• Tissue Engineering (bone, cartilage, dental, cardiovascular, skin)
• In vitro and in vivo biocompatibility evaluation of biomaterials, scaffolds and nanoparticles
• Investigation of the osteoinductive potential of implantable biomaterials and drugs
• Development of osteoinductive and osteoconductive biomaterials and scaffolds
• Investigation of the osteogenic potential of implantable biomaterials and drugs
• 3D printing technologies, bioprinting, electrospinning
• Biomechanics
• Functionalization of biomaterials with growth factors
• Development of protein immobilization techniques on biomaterials surfaces
• Adsorption and desorption studies of proteins on biomaterials surfaces

Awards/Prizes/Distinctions

• Elected Governing Council member of the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering (IAMBE) (term 2025-2027)
• Fellow of the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering (IAMBE, elected 2024)
• Fellow in Biomaterials Science and Engineering (FBSE) awarded by the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering (IUS-BSE, elected in 2020)
• International Fellow of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (FTERM, elected in 2023)
• Elected Steering Committee member of the International College of Fellows of Biomaterials Science and Engineering (ICF-BSE) (term 2024-2028)
• European Orthopaedic Research Society (EORS) Ambassador for Greece (elected in 2023)
• Chair of the 28th Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB 2017) in Athens
• Program Chair of the TERMIS-EU 2019 (Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society) Conference in Rhodes