Collaborative Research: Novel Hybrid Metal-Piezoelectric Biomaterials for Anti-infectious Implantable Medical Devices

摘要：科学家们在开发适合我们身体使用的材料方面取得了显著的进步，例如医疗器械和植入物。然而，当这些装置被放置在体内时，存在着感染风险的重大挑战。当细菌通过装置所在的区域渗透到身体表面时，可能会引起难以治疗的感染，甚至可能危及生命。这一障碍阻碍了改进医疗设备的发展。为了解决这个问题，这个NSF项目旨在创造能够有效防止微生物定植的医疗设备。在这里，先进的混合复合生物材料将被设计成能够抵抗细菌的设备。研究小组将通过检查细菌对这些材料产生的电信号的生化、物理和生理反应，研究通常粘附在人类口腔表面的细菌对这些新型生物材料的反应。通过开发这些创新的环保材料，该团队希望制造出更好地预防感染的医疗设备。这将有助于为每个人提供更安全、更有效的医疗保健。本研究计划将会配合教育及外展活动，旨在将工程及牙科医学领域的学生及专业人士聚集在一起，以促进日益融合的研究。特别是，这些活动将侧重于培养STEM中代表性不足的下一代群体，这将创建一个更具包容性和创新性的科学界。技术摘要：该合作项目是美国国家科学基金会的一个创新的多学科实验项目，将材料科学、电气工程和口腔微生物学联系起来。总体目标是研究尖端的多功能生物材料平台，具有防止医疗设备上生物膜形成的能力。为此，本研究的目标是：1)通过整合各种金属和压电成分，推进用于植入式医疗器械的混合金属-压电纳米复合材料；2)阐明金属-压电纳米复合材料抗生物膜活性的潜在机制；3)利用体外混合物种和离体唾液驱动的口腔生物膜模型验证其抗生物膜活性。深入分析微生物的生化，物理和生理反应的电势，从先进的杂交生物材料将被调查。所提出的生物材料平台可能会提供一种有效的、创新的、生态的生物膜预防策略，通过多种金属和压电材料的整合，而不依赖于广谱抗菌药物。本项目探讨的中心思想也被纳入教育和推广活动，包括1)指导少数民族社区的年轻研究人员，2)将牙科医学和工程方面的学生和专业人员的研究和教育结合起来。促进STEM教育的包容性和多样性将创造一支有能力和多样化的劳动力队伍，为未来的科学进步和创新做出贡献。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。

Non-technical Abstract: Scientists have made remarkable advancements in developing materials suitable for use in our bodies, such as medical devices and implants. However, there is a significant challenge related to the risk of infection when these devices are placed inside bodies. When bacteria infiltrate the surface of the body through the area where the device is located, it can cause infections that are hard to treat and can even be life-threatening. This obstacle hampers the progress of developing improved medical devices. To address this problem, this NSF project aims to create medical devices that can effectively prevent microbial colonization. Here, advanced hybrid composite biomaterials will be designed to make the devices resistant to bacteria. The research team will study how bacteria that typically stick to surfaces in human mouths respond to these novel biomaterials by examining their biochemical, physical, and physiological reactions to the electric signals produced by these materials. By developing these innovative and environmentally friendly materials, the team hopes to create medical devices that are better at preventing infections. This will contribute to making healthcare safer and more effective for everyone. This research project will be accompanied by education and outreach activities that aim to bring together students and professionals from engineering and dental medicine fields to promote Growing Convergence Research. In particular, these activities will focus on fostering the next generation of underrepresented groups in STEM, which will create a more inclusive and innovative scientific community.Technical Abstract: This collaborative NSF project represents an innovative multidisciplinary experimental program that connects material science, electrical engineering, and oral microbiology. The overarching objective is to investigate cutting-edge multifunctional biomaterial platforms with the capacity to prevent biofilm formation on medical devices. To this end, the research objectives are aimed at i) advancing hybrid metal-piezoelectric nanocomposites for implantable medical devices by integrating various metallic and piezoelectric components, ii) elucidating the underlying mechanism of the antibiofilm activity of metal-piezoelectric nanocomposites, and iii) validating the antibiofilm activity using in vitro mixed-species and ex vivo saliva-driven oral biofilm models. In-depth analyses of microbial biochemical, physical, and physiological responses to electric potentials derived from advanced hybrid biomaterial will be investigated. The proposed biomaterial platform will likely render an effective, innovative, and ecological biofilm prevention strategy, achieved through the integration of diverse metals and piezoelectric materials without relying on broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. The central ideas explored in this project are also incorporated into education and outreach initiatives, including i) mentoring young researchers in minority communities and 2) integrating research and education for students and professionals in dental medicine and engineering. Promoting inclusivity and diversity in STEM education will create a capable and diverse workforce that can contribute to scientific advancements and innovation in the future.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.