I-Corps: High Lubricity Biomimetic Meniscus

I-Corps：高润滑性仿生半月板

• 批准号: 2029961
• 负责人: Noshir Pesika
• 金额: $ 5万
• 依托单位: Tulane University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-07-01 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2029961&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Corps; Lubricity; Biomimetic; Meniscus

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a fabrication of synthetic meniscus or cartilage and other medical devices. Approximately one million knee arthroplasties are performed yearly in the United States, with an expected yearly increase of 50% by 2025. Given the average cost of knee replacements ($40,000) and the rising number of surgeries, the estimated market for knee replacement surgeries is over $40 billion per year in the US alone. The proposed technology represents the first synthetic meniscus. This meniscal implant may provide a safe, less invasive, less costly, and superior alternative to conventional knee arthroplasty and competing technologies. This technology might apply to other devices, such as syringes and catheters. This I-Corps project is based on the development of a textured polymer surface that promotes lubricity. The technology was inspired by the lubrication mechanism of natural articular cartilage. When a load is applied onto cartilage, synovial fluid within the cartilage matrix generates a hydrodynamic repulsive force as the fluid drains out. This in turn shifts the mode of lubrication from the boundary lubrication regime (where friction is typically high) to the hydrodynamic lubrication regime, resulting in ultra-low friction (i.e., high lubricity). The same concept can be applied in the fabrication of synthetic polymer surfaces by the judicious choice of the polymer engineered to hold a fluid that extrudes when a load is applied. The novel lubrication mechanism can operate over a wide range of shear velocities and applied loads. Such an artificial cartilage may offer shock absorbency (since the polymer is elastic), high lubricity in aqueous environments, and low surface wear rates, which are all desirable properties for an effective artificial meniscus replacement.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.

I-Corps项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发合成半月板或软骨和其他医疗设备的制造。在美国，每年大约进行100万例膝关节置换术，预计到2025年每年将增加50%。考虑到膝关节置换术的平均费用（4万美元）和手术数量的增加，仅在美国，膝关节置换术的估计市场每年就超过400亿美元。提出的技术代表了第一个合成半月板。这种半月板植入物可以提供一种安全、侵入性小、成本低、优于传统膝关节置换术和竞争技术的替代方法。这项技术可能适用于其他设备，如注射器和导管。I-Corps项目的基础是开发一种具有增强润滑性的聚合物表面。这项技术的灵感来自于天然关节软骨的润滑机制。当对软骨施加载荷时，软骨基质内的滑液在液体排出时产生流体动力排斥力。这反过来又将润滑模式从边界润滑模式（摩擦通常很高）转变为流体动力润滑模式，从而实现超低摩擦（即高润滑）。同样的概念也可以应用于合成聚合物表面的制造，通过明智地选择聚合物来容纳在施加载荷时挤压的流体。这种新型的润滑机制可以在大范围的剪切速度和施加的载荷下工作。这种人造软骨可以提供减震性（因为聚合物是弹性的），在水环境中具有高润滑性，并且表面磨损率低，这些都是有效的人工半月板替代品的理想特性。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。