POWRE: Molecular Control of Interfaces in Insitu Polymer-Hydroxyapatite Composites for Bone Replacement

在寻求用于骨置换的新材料的过程中，人们感兴趣的是设计具有与骨相似的机械性能的复合材料，以避免诸如与当前涂覆的金属植入物相关的周围骨的应力屏蔽的问题。这个POWRE奖的重点是研究控制原位羟基磷灰石（HAP）-聚合物复合材料的机械性能的方法，以用于其潜在的骨替代用途。通过有机化合物对无机相结晶的分子控制已经显示出制造用于多种应用的新型复合材料的巨大前景。离子聚合物如聚（丙烯酸）（PAAc）由于其强结合Ca离子的能力而适合。该研究的主要目的是确定和确定HAP矿化过程中HAP和聚合物添加剂之间的基本分子相互作用。这将允许控制HAP的微观结构演变，从而控制原位HAP/聚合物复合材料中观察到的机械行为。具体的研究目标是：1.对聚合物-羟基磷灰石原位复合材料中有机相和无机相的分子水平相互作用有基本的认识。离子型聚合物链对微晶聚集体的形成以及HAP的成核和生长的具体作用将被研究。2.将分子参数（如振动带强度变化和位移）与宏观力学行为（如拉伸和压缩强度）相关联。PI是NDSU的一个新教师。POWRE赠款将帮助她建立一个独立的研究计划，并进一步促进她的职业发展。这笔赠款将帮助PI制定第一个研究计划，在NDSU建立生物材料研究和教育计划。PI建议将研究与生物材料领域的教育结合起来，让本科生和/或少数民族学生参与积极的研究。在拟定研究结束时，PI计划将研究结果整合到生物材料新课程的开发中。本课程将侧重于高年级和研究生工程专业的学生，并将促进生物材料在工程界的重要性在NDSU。

0074662KattiIn the quest for new materials for bone replacement, it is of interest to design composites with mechanical properties similar to that of bone to avoid problems such as stress shielding of surrounding bone that are associated with the current coated metallic implants. The focus of this POWRE award is to investigate means of controlling mechanical properties in insitu hydroxyapatite(HAP)-polymer composites for their potential use as bone replacement. A molecular control of crystallization of inorganic phases by organic compounds has shown great promise for fabrication of new composites for several applications. Ionic polymers such as poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) are suitable due to their ability to strongly bind Ca ions. The major aim of the proposed research is to identify and determine fundamental molecular interactions between HAP and polymeric additive during mineralization of HAP. This will allow for a control of microstructural evolution of HAP and hence the observed mechanical behavior in insitu HAP/polymer composites. The specific research objectives are: 1. To develop a fundamental understanding of molecular level interactions of organic and inorganic phases in polymer-hydroxyapatite insitu composites. The specific role of ionic polymer chains on microcrystalline aggregate formation and nucleation and growth of HAP will be investigated. 2. Correlate molecular parameters (such as vibrational band intensity changes and shifts) to macroscopic mechanical behavior such as tensile and compressive strengths. The PI is a new faculty at NDSU. The POWRE grant will help her establish an independent research program and further her career development. This grant will help the PI to develop a first research initiative to establish a Biomaterials research and education program at NDSU. The PI proposes to integrate research with education in the Biomaterials field by involving undergraduate women and/or minority students into active research. At the conclusion of the proposed studies, the PI plans to integrate results of the study into development of a new course on Biomaterials. This course will be focussed towards senior level and graduate engineering students and will promote the importance of Biomaterials in the engineering community at NDSU.***