Antibacterial and low-abrasive coatings on sliding surfaces of orthopedic implants

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The steadily rising number of periprothetic infections nowadays represents a serious challenge for modern patient care, in both clinical as well as socio-economical terms. It is thus the aim of the present proposal (knowledge transfer project) to develop very efficient sliding surfaces for mechanically highly stressed endoprotheses, which at the same time exhibit efficient anti-infectious properties. The outlined route towards such multifunctional surfaces is the result of a previous DFG project, where the technical and biological grounds of our research had been explored. To our knowledge, our innovative, multi-functional sliding surfaces have worldwide never been realized before. To achieve our goals, we need to further develop the technologies to effectively transfer the multi-functional thin film coatings to smooth metal or ceramic implant surfaces and to further improve our ion beam implantation based transformation of UHMWPE into DLC.Due to the antibacterial requirements during the initial implantation into the tissue, we rely on the coating of previously medically proven implant materials, which we then supply with biologically optimized silver concentrations. To ensure the timely transfer of our findings into medical applications, all approval-relevant details like biomechanical abrasion behavior, physical and cell biological properties of the potential wear particles etc. will be investigated in close cooperation in detail and conforming to standards with our industrial partner, the Aesculap AG.To investigate the adhesion behavior of the multi-functional surfaces under quasi in vivo conditions, we expand our investigations by a vessel-on-a-chip tool where the implant cell interaction and adhesion processes can be studied under even pulsatile flow conditions. Also, we plan to investigate the interaction of lymphocytes with model membranes and lymphatic endothelial cells in the presence of implant material and wear debris. The most important prerequisite for a successful realization of the proposal comprising many complex technological and research areas is the synergetic combination of the existing expertise profiles of each of the participating cooperation partners from specialized university research groups and an internationally renowned German implant manufacturer.On the basis of an economically feasible, systematic knowledge transfer between the involved universities and the industry partner, the present proposal will trigger new and long term incentives for a successful medico-technical exploitation and applications. It thus is also aiming towards the sustainable preservation or even creation of jobs in this industry. The goal of the proposed project is to pioneer with highly efficient anti-infective sliding surfaces for endoprotheses. It is of utmost clinical and health care importance and opens up new innovative options for the prevention and therapy of the steadily increasing number of periprosthetic infections.