PFI:AIR-TT: Prototyping bioabsorbable composites for bone-fixation applications involving low to medium loads

该PFI：AIR技术翻译项目的重点是翻译用于骨固定应用的聚合物基复合材料的新颖设计和制造。 该项目将产生复合骨固定装置的原型。这种复合材料具有以下独特的特征：与骨匹配的弹性模量，优异的韧性，并且它是生物相容性和生物可吸收的。这些装置将消除与市场上常用的金属骨固定装置相关的问题，例如应力屏蔽、金属离子释放和愈合后的骨再骨折。 该项目涉及使用新型材料设计和制造技术来提高复合材料的机械性能。 为此，成立了一个多学科团队，拥有生物材料、聚合物和复合材料加工和表征、技术转让和商业化方面的专业知识。该项目吸引了从大学到工业的研究人员参与这项从研究发现到商业现实的技术转化工作。这种新的复合材料将极大地造福于骨折和需要整形外科手术的患者。这是因为基于新型复合材料的新型骨固定器械将直接解决现有磷灰石/聚合物复合材料的不良机械性能以及金属骨固定器械的应力屏蔽和骨再骨折问题，这是目前市场上的解决方案。此外，这项工作将为骨固定材料的制造提供一种新的加工方法，从而有助于提高美国在骨固定器械市场的竞争力。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating the novel design and fabrication of a polymer-based composite for bone fixation applications. The project will result in a prototype of a composite bone fixation device. This composite device has the following unique features: matching elastic modulus to bone, excellent toughness, and it is biocompatible and bioresorable. These devices would eliminate the problems associated with the commonly used metallic bone fixation devices in the market, such as stress shielding, release of metal ions and bone re-fracture after healing. This project addresses the use of novel materials design and fabrication techniques to enhance the mechanical properties of the composite. To this end, a multi-disciplinary team has been formed with expertise in biomaterials, polymer and composite processing and characterization, technology transfer and commercialization. The project engages investigators from University to industry in this technology translation effort from research discovery toward commercial reality.The new composite material will greatly benefit patients who suffer from bone fractures and are in need of orthopedic surgeries. This is because the novel bone fixation devices, based on the new composite material, will directly address the poor mechanical properties of existing apatite/polymer composites and the stress-shielding and bone re-fracture problems of metallic bone-fixation devices, the current market solutions. In addition, the work will present a new processing approach for fabrication of bone-fixation materials and thus contribute to U.S. competitiveness in the bone fixation device market.