Central Analytical Facility

FacultyServices Projects PublicationsResearch Staff Testing Services

The physicochemical characterization of biomaterials is a critical step in understanding their suitability for specific applications, ensuring their safety, and optimizing their performance. This characterization involves the assessment of various physical and chemical properties, which collectively influence their interactions with biological systems. Central Analytical Facility (CAF) offers tests to elucidate the physicochemical properties of materials. Parts 18 and 19 of the ISO 10993 standards of the International Organization for Standardization clearly describe the essential physicochemical characterizations required to evaluate medical devices.

Determining the chemical composition, identification of the elements and functional groups present in the material, assessing the purity, and checking the presence of potential impurities are fundamental in biomaterial characterization. Microstructural analysis provides insights into the material's morphology, size, and distribution of its constituent phases. Understanding the mechanical behavior of biomaterials is crucial for applications like orthopedic implants and tissue scaffolds. Tensile, compressive, and shear testing can reveal properties like tensile strength, Young's modulus, and toughness. The surface properties of biomaterials such as roughness, wettability, and surface charge significantly impact their interactions with biological environments. For biomaterials intended for temporary use, assessing their degradation rate and degradation products is essential. This involves monitoring changes in mass, size, and chemical composition over time in relevant biological conditions. Biomaterials may be exposed to various environmental conditions. Assessing their chemical stability under conditions such as temperature, pH, and humidity is essential to predict their long-term performance. Thermal analysis can provide information about the material's thermal stability and phase transitions. In the context of injectable biomaterials or formulations, rheological measurements help understand their flow behavior, viscosity, and shear-thinning properties.

CAF functions as the nodal center for analyzing the physicochemical properties of materials and devices. CAF hosts an array of state-of-the-art equipment for performing a diverse range of analyses including spectroscopy, thermal, chromatography, mechanical, and imaging. The facility is open for industries and academic institutions to get their analysis done on a payment basis. All the testing activities at CAF are performed under the quality platform following ISO/IEC 17025. Out of these tests, the following three physicochemical tests are accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), India.

Besides testing, CAF organizes technical sessions for the benefit of students, researchers, and teachers. CAF is happy to provide technical advice and guidance to customers on their analytical needs.

For further information on tests and services offered, please contact:
Phone:  91-471-2520275/268/248
Mail:     rjoseph@sctimst.ac.in, renjithschem@sctimst.ac.in

Faculty