3rd International Conference on BioTribology
(ICoBT 2016)

11-14 September 2016 | Imperial College London, London, UK

We are very pleased to announce the 3rd ICoBT will be held in London, 11-14 September 2016.

Biotribology plays an important role in many aspects of our everyday life from artificial joint implants and “mouth-feel” of food texture to hair conditioners and contact lens comfort. It is a multidisciplinary field which includes aspects of biology, surface physics, materials, chemistry, biomechanics and mechanical engineering. The aim of the ICoBT meetings therefore is to bring together researchers from across the scientific and engineering spectrum, to promote communication across the different disciplines and to provide a platform for the presentation of new work in one meeting focussed solely on Biotribology.

The inaugural ICoBT was organised at Imperial College in 2011 and a 2nd ICoBT was held in Toronto in 2014. Both meetings were very successful with over 200 delegates and 150 oral and poster presentations. The feedback from the conference questionnaires was very encouraging with delegates commenting on the breadth of scientific participation and the opportunities for discussion and net-working across the biotribology spectrum. Our stated aim of bringing together biotribologists from different research backgrounds was more than fulfilled. The enthusiasm and support expressed by participants has prompted us to organise a 3rd ICoBT which will again be held at Imperial College in London.

Contributions are welcomed from scientists, engineers and clinicians working in the fields of orthopaedic surgery, dentistry, biomechanics, biomaterials, cosmetic chemistry, biophysics and biomimetics. The topic of research must be predominately tribology and include a biological surface as part of the interface (e.g. articular cartilage, skin) or have a direct impact on biological function (e.g. prosthetic joints, dental implants). A Special Issue of selected papers from the conference will be published in the new journal Biotribology which was launched in early 2015.

Original research papers, for oral or poster presentation, are invited for the following areas:

• Soft tissue interaction: contact lenses; stents; bio-probes, bio-cells
• Articular cartilage: mechanically and biochemically induced damage; modelling; lubrication mechanisms
• Skin tribology and haptics: tactile perception and surface texture; friction;
• Personal care: hair conditioners; skin creams; cosmetics; shaving products; toothpaste
• Tongue-palate interaction: food rheology; ’mouth-feel’; food texture
• Prosthetic implants: synovial joint tribology; spinal discs; explant analysis; implant corrosion; materials and coatings
• Dental tribology: tooth and implant wear; fretting
• Biomaterials for tribology: artificial cartilage; meniscus; bio-scaffolds
• Biomimetics: bio-inspired tribology; materials; complex fluids; smart rheology
• Biotribology for industry and medicine: identifying new opportunities; developing test methods; correlation with customer experience
• Sports tribology: equipment design and development; preparation, deterioration and testing of sport surfaces; grip; player interaction and gait analysis