Antimicrobial and regenerative laser-textured bulk metallic glass biomaterials

在英国，2021年进行了181823例髋关节和膝关节置换手术。不幸的是，11,083例（6%）手术是由于植入失败而进行的修复。无菌性松动占了4239例，而感染占了2455例。综上所述，由于骨整合不良或感染导致的植入物松动占所有髋关节和膝关节置换术失败的60%以上。每年有成千上万的患者接受这些手术，而且这个数字预计还会增长，显然需要既能促进骨形成又能预防感染的新技术。目前用于植入物的金属是基于传统的晶体合金（例如不锈钢）。近年来的研究进展导致了具有无序原子结构的金属合金的发展，称为大块金属玻璃（bmg）。bmg具有高强度，类似聚合物的可成形性和增强的抗疲劳/耐腐蚀性，使其对医疗设备具有吸引力。当与新兴技术相结合时，例如工程纳米拓扑学，有可能在医疗设备领域发生阶梯式变化。然而，目前尚不清楚激光烧蚀如何影响bmg的结构、性质和生物反应。本研究的目的是表征激光烧蚀如何影响BMG的结构和性能；并优化表面形貌，防止细菌定植，同时促进骨骼再生。

In the UK in 2021, 181,823 hip and knee replacement surgeries were performed. Unfortunately, 11,083 (6%) of these surgeries were revisions due to failed implants. Aseptic loosening accounted for 4,239 of these revisions whilst infection accounted for 2,455 of these revisions. Taken together, loosening of implants due to poor osseointegration or infection accounts for over 60% of all hip and knee replacement failures. With hundreds of thousands of patients undergoing these procedures annually and the number expected to grow, there is a clear need for novel technologies that both encourage bone formation but also prevent infections.The current metals used for implants are based on conventional crystalline alloys (e.g. stainless steel). Recent research advances have resulted in the development of metal alloys that have a disordered atomic structure, known as bulk metallic glasses (BMGs). BMGs exhibit high strength, polymer-like formability and enhanced fatigue/corrosion resistance, making them attractive for medical devices. When combined with emerging technologies, such as engineered nanotopographies, there is potential for a step-change in the field of medical devices. Little is known, however, how nanopatterning BMGs using laser-ablation, influence its structure, properties and biological responses. The aims of this studentship are to characterise how laser-ablation influences BMG structure and properties; and optimise surface topographies to prevent bacterial colonisation whilst encouraging bone regeneration.