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.

该I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发合成弯；软骨或其他医疗设备的制造。每年在美国每年进行大约100万次膝关节节肢动物，到2025年，每年的每年增加50％。鉴于膝关节置换的平均成本（40,000美元）和手术数量的增加，因此，仅在美国，膝关节置换手术的估计市场每年超过400亿美元。拟议的技术代表了第一个合成的弯具。该半月板植入物可以提供一种安全，侵入性较小，成本较低和替代方案，替代了传统的膝关节置换术和竞争技术。该技术可能适用于其他设备，例如注射器和导管。 这个I-Corps项目基于促进润滑性的纹理聚合物表面的开发。 该技术的灵感来自天然关节软骨的润滑机制。当将负载施加到软骨上时，软骨基质中的滑液会在流体排出时会产生流体动力排斥力。 反过来，这将润滑模式从边界润滑状态（通常为摩擦较高）转移到流体动力润滑方案，从而导致超低摩擦（即高润滑性）。 通过明智的选择，可以在施加负载时挤出的液体来制造合成聚合物表面的制造中相同的概念。 新型的润滑机制可以在各种剪切速度和施加的载荷上运行。 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.