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

这个PFI：空气技术翻译项目专注于翻译一种用于骨固定应用的聚合物基复合材料的新颖设计和制造。该项目将产生一种复合骨固定装置的原型。该复合体具有以下独特特点：弹性模数与骨匹配，韧性优良，具有生物相容性和生物可回收性。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，如应力屏蔽、金属离子释放和愈合后骨重新骨折。该项目致力于利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，已经组建了一个多学科团队，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行业的研究人员，致力于将这项技术从研究发现转化为商业现实。新的复合材料将极大地造福于骨折患者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装置将直接解决现有磷灰石/聚合物复合材料的力学性能较差以及当前市场解决方案-金属骨固定装置的应力屏蔽和骨再骨折问题。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设备市场的竞争力。

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.