Optimisation of osteochondral grafts for the treatment of cartilage lesions

骨软骨移植物治疗软骨损伤的优化

• 批准号: 2655178
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Leeds
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2655178
• 关键词: Optimisation; osteochondral; grafts; treatment; cartilage

This PhD will involve using engineering methods such as finite element analysis and mechanical testing to examine the performance of 'osteochondral graft' implants for the repair of damaged cartilage in the knee, addressing a pressing clinical challenge. Osteoarthritis of the knee affects over 4.5 million people in the UK, it causes the joint to become painful and stiff, limiting a patient's movement and reducing quality of life. There is a clinical need for earlier stage, less-invasive, treatments to prevent or delay knee replacement surgery, which is costly and not suitable for all patients. Repair of small areas of damaged cartilage with osteochondral (cartilage + bone) grafts has shown some promise, but the clinical outcomes are variable.This PhD will use a combination of novel experimental testing and finite element (FE) modelling methods to examine the mechanical performance of osteochondral grafts, with the aim of identifying the key design features of the graft that affect performance. The study will include the use of unique in vitro testing equipment and microCT imaging facilities to examine the mechanical performance of cadaveric human and sheep knees following grafting. Image-based FE methods will be used to evaluate the graft performance, extending current methods to examine graft subsidence and damage to adjacent tissues. There will be opportunities to validate the models against both experimental data from Leeds and recent in vivo sheep studies undertaken by collaborators at UCL. The combined experimental and FE approach will be used to evaluate the effects of graft design changes, and propose how grafts can best be matched to different patient characteristics.

该博士课程将涉及使用有限元分析和力学测试等工程方法来检查“骨软骨移植”植入物的性能，以修复膝关节受损的软骨，解决迫切的临床挑战。膝关节骨关节炎影响了英国超过450万人，它会导致关节疼痛和僵硬，限制了患者的活动，降低了生活质量。临床需要早期治疗，微创治疗，以防止或延迟膝关节置换术，这是昂贵的，并不是适合所有患者。骨软骨（软骨+骨）移植物修复小区域受损软骨已显示出一些希望，但临床结果是可变的。本博士将结合新颖的实验测试和有限元（FE）建模方法来检查骨软骨移植物的机械性能，目的是确定影响移植物性能的关键设计特征。这项研究将包括使用独特的体外测试设备和微型ct成像设备来检查人类和羊的尸体膝盖移植后的机械性能。基于图像的有限元方法将用于评估移植物的性能，扩展目前的方法来检查移植物下沉和邻近组织的损伤。将有机会根据利兹大学的实验数据和最近由伦敦大学学院的合作者进行的体内绵羊研究来验证模型。结合实验和有限元方法将用于评估移植物设计变化的影响，并提出移植物如何最好地匹配不同的患者特征。