A New Approach Toward Efficacy of HA Coatings for Bio-Medical Implants

本研究的目的是开发用于牙科和骨科植入物的新一代磷酸钙涂层，其中优化了膜表征，以增强生物活性，并粘附于周围组织，从而延长涂层寿命并更快地缓解患者。该方法是处理具有和不具有钇掺杂的功能梯度羟基磷灰石（HA）涂层。钇可以引起体内钙的初始吸收增加，从而导致选择蛋白质吸附以增强骨细胞功能。涂层的分级结晶性质可以改善植入物和骨之间的结合强度，使得接受关节或牙齿置换手术的患者可以快速恢复正常的生活方式。它旨在通过创造与骨形成牢固、持久结合的材料来延长植入物的使用寿命。这可以减少植入物置换的需要，主要是对于有可能使用植入物更长时间的年轻患者。毫无疑问，用于研究新涂层技术和新涂层材料的拟议研究中使用的设计标准可能对下一代骨科和牙科植入物的开发产生重大影响，这些植入物具有更好的结合并置骨的能力和耐久性。 教育计划包括：跨学科的研究，可以有利于学生的工作和学习双方，PI将继续开发她的新的研究生课程，包括生物材料，本科生将通过本科研究选修课程和特别尝试招募代表性不足和/或女学生参与。

The objective of this research is to develop a new generation of calcium phosphate coatings for dental and orthopedic implants, in which film characterization is optimized, for enhanced bioactivity, and adhesion to the surrounding tissues for promotion of the coating lifetime and faster relief of the patient. The approach is to process a functionally graded hydroxyapatite (HA) coating with and without Yttrium doping. Yttrium can cause an increase in initial absorption of calcium in the body leading to select protein adsorption to enhance bone cell function. The graded crystallinity nature of the coating can improve bonding strength between implant and bone so that a patient who has received joint or dental replacement surgery may quickly return to a normal lifestyle. It aims to increase the service-life of an implant by creating materials that form a strong, long lasting, bond with bone. This can decrease the need for implant replacement mainly for younger patients with the potential of using an implant for longer period of time. Undoubtedly, design criteria used in the proposed study to investigate new coating techniques coupled with a new coating material can have great impact in the development of the next generation of orthopedic and dental implants with an improved ability to bind to juxtaposed bone and durability. The education plan involves: interdisciplinary research that can benefit the students to work and learn from both parties, PI will continue developing her new graduate course including Biomaterials, undergraduate students will become involved through undergraduate research elective course and the special attempts to recruit underrepresented and/or female student.