I-Corps: Cellulose Nano-fiber Composites for Biomedical Applications

这个I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力包括基于使用纤维素纳米纤维（CNF）的新型生物医学设备，这是一种绿色、可再生、增值的产品，作为引领生物医学结构材料新时代的材料。小型手术固定装置（钢板、螺钉和销钉）、骨支架/间隔器（骨科）、手术支持装置、矫形器和大伤口治疗（负压伤口治疗）都是强大的潜在应用。目前，这些市场的总价值约为200亿美元，预计到2025年将迅速增长。初步反馈表明，目前的材料质量较差，不能满足医生和患者的需求，外科医生很难处理，而且通常成本过高。钛合金是最常见的骨科材料，但它们存在显著的缺陷，包括刚度过大、密度过大、生物相容性有问题以及无法进行生物吸收。I-Corps项目进一步开发了一种技术平台，使生产天然纤维化纳米纤维素（CNF）复合材料的多孔固体形式成为可能。在适当的加工条件下，多孔CNF固体形态可以生产出令人印象深刻的机械性能（孔隙率，强度重量比，模量，可加工性，耐久性，生物相容性，溶解率），超过现代塑料。基于初步结果，该材料体系可能表现出用于许多医疗保健相关应用的所需特性。目前的研究旨在探索这种材料体系的可行性，以满足这些应用领域的具体要求。通过I-Corps计划，该项目将侧重于确定医疗和保健相关利益相关者的具体需求，包括材料和设计限制。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project includes new biomedical devices based on the use of cellulose nanofiber (CNF), a green, renewable, value-added product, as the material to usher in the new age of biomedical structural materials. Small surgical fixation devices (plates, screws, and pins), bone scaffolds/spacers (orthobiologics), surgical support devices, orthotics, and large wound therapies (negative pressure wound therapy) are all strong potential applications. Currently these markets are collectively valued at ~$20 billion and predicted to grow rapidly by 2025. Preliminary feedback indicates current materials are of inferior quality, not meeting the needs of doctors and patients, are difficult for surgeons to work with, and generally too costly. Titanium alloys are the most prevalent orthopedic material, but they demonstrate significant flaws including excessive stiffness, extreme density, questionable biocompatibility, and the inability for bio-resorption.This I-Corps project further develops a technology platform that makes it possible to produce porous solid forms derived from composites of the naturally derived fibrillated nanocellulose (CNF). Under the appropriate processing conditions, porous CNF solid-forms can be produced with impressive mechanical properties (porosity, strength-to-weight ratios, modulus, machinability, durability, biocompatibility, dissolution rate), exceeding that of modern plastics. Based on preliminary results, this material system may exhibit the desired properties for use in a number of healthcare related applications. Current research seeks to explore the feasibility of this material system to meet the specific requirements of these application areas. Through the I-Corps program this project will focus on identifying the specific needs, including material and design constraints, of medical and healthcare related stakeholders.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.