CAREER: Processing of Bioceramic Implants Using Rapid Prototyping

这个职业项目的研究部分集中在生物陶瓷植入物的快速成型方面，旨在调查以下几个方面：孔大小、孔体积和孔分布对多孔陶瓷植入物的生物相容性、生物活性和生物力学性能有什么影响？它将检查不同类型的多孔生物陶瓷植入物上各种可控的相互连接的孔结构的有效性。这一目标将通过融合先进制造技术、基础陶瓷加工、材料表征和生物医学工程的跨学科方法来实现。网状和近网状生物陶瓷植入物将通过使用快速成型(固体自由形式制造)技术的间接和直接加工路线来制造。这种新型的三维蜂窝结构具有可控的互连孔隙率和所需的形状。孔大小、孔分布和总孔体积将通过模拟体液的体外测试来研究它们对组织生长和生物力学特性的影响。本科生和研究生将通过在先进加工和制造方面的实践研究经验来培养。每年夏天将招募当地初中生/高中生参加该项目的外联计划。该项目有望在生物工程应用的陶瓷快速成型方面取得重大进展。这些知识将通过该项目的教育努力直接造福于有选择的大学生和高中生。

The research component of this CAREER project focuses on rapid prototyping of bioceramic implants and intends to investigate the following aspects: what are the effects of pore size, pore volume and pore distribution on biocompatibility, bioactivity and the biomechanical properties of porous ceramic implants? It will examine the effectiveness of various controlled interconnected pore structures on different types of porous bioceramic implants. This objective will be accomplished using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates advanced manufacturing techniques, fundamental ceramic processing, materials characterization, and biomedical engineering. Net-shape and near net-shape bioceramic implants will be fabricated via indirect and direct processing routes using rapid prototyping (solid freeform fabrication) technique. Novel three-dimensional honeycomb structures with controlled interconnected porosity and desired shapes will be fabricated. Pore size, pore distribution and total pore volume will be varied to study their effects on tissue ingrowth and biomechanical properties using in-vitro testing in simulated body fluids. Undergraduate and graduate students will be educated through hands-on research experience in advanced processing and manufacturing. Local junior/senior high school students will be recruited every summer to participate in the project under an outreach program. The project is expected to make significant advance of the current knowledge on rapid prototyping of ceramics for bioengineering applications. This knowledge will directly benefit selective college and high-school student through the project's education effort.