Nanoparticle Coating System for Biomedical Applications

描述(申请人提供)：该SBIR第二阶段项目的主要目标是设计、制造和商业化一种可扩展的“交钥匙”沉积系统--NanoBioCoatTM(适用于干粉和液体分散)，用于在生物医学应用的植入物上应用主动或被动纳米颗粒功能梯度涂层。为了开发和制作该系统的原型，将执行三项主要任务：(1)NanoBioCoatTM系统的系统设计、开发和原型；(2)该系统在髋关节植入物上沉积基于纳米颗粒的功能梯度涂层(使用二氧化钛、羟基磷灰石和氧化锌)的演示；以及(3)对涂层系统和涂层组件的物理、化学和生物医学特性的广泛测试。目前最先进的纳米颗粒沉积系统面临的挑战是，由于团聚和固结导致的颗粒尺寸增长，很难保持纳米颗粒的功能特征。为了应对这些挑战，NanoMech建议开发NanoBioCoatTM系统，该系统以纳米颗粒喷射沉积的创新方法为特色，即结合纳米颗粒流态化技术的静电喷涂(ESC)过程和瞬时烧结过程。该沉积系统的一个关键特征是能够从纳米颗粒开始，并在所得到的涂层中保持其纳米特性。该系统将能够使用多种不同材料中的任何一种来生产涂层，包括二氧化钛、羟基磷灰石(HAP)和氧化锌，单独或组合使用。该系统可以将涂层应用于植入物等生物医疗设备，提供促进骨骼生长和/或减少细菌等生物活性功能。此外，与用于生物医学植入涂层的ESC相关的其他重要特征包括：(1)单独和组合沉积不同类型的纳米颗粒；(2)生产结构和成分分级的涂层；(3)在复杂的3D几何形状上提供均匀的沉积；(4)针对创新应用使用不同类型的材料沉积多功能复合涂层；(5)通过沉积生物活性材料、在沉积过程中或在后处理中(例如添加蛋白质)使涂层功能化；以及(6)提供高生产率和成本效益。如果成功，该系统将有助于在植入物上实现基于纳米颗粒的生物活性涂层，显著缩短固定时间，减少细菌感染的机会，延长组织工程植入物的使用寿命。此外，该系统还有可能用于药物输送、环境净化和防护服的涂层。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The main goals of this SBIR Phase II project are to design, fabricate and commercialize a scalable 'turn-key' deposition system- NanoBioCoatTM (suitable for dry powder and liquid dispersion) for applying active or passive nanoparticle-based functionally graded coatings on implants for biomedical applications. To develop and prototype the system, three major tasks will be performed: (1) systematic design, development, and prototyping of the NanoBioCoatTM system; (2) demonstration of the system in depositing a nanoparticle-based functionally graded coating (using TiO2,HAp, and ZnO) on hip implants; and (3) extensive testing of the coating system and coated components for physical, chemical, and biomedical properties. The challenge facing current state-of-the-art nanoparticle deposition systems is the difficulty in retaining the functional signatures of nanoparticles due to particle size growth caused by agglomeration and consolidation. To address these challenges, NanoMech proposes to develop the NanoBioCoatTM system, which features innovative methods for nanoparticle spray deposition, namely an electrostatic spray coating (ESC) process combined with a nanoparticle fluidization technique, and a transient sintering process. A key feature of the deposition system is the capability to start with nanoparticles and retain their nano-characteristics in the resulting coating. The system will be able to produce coatings using any of a number of different materials including titania, hydroxyapatite (HAp), and zinc oxide, singly or in combination. The system can apply coatings to biomedical devices such as implants, providing bioactive functions such as promoting bone growth and/or reducing bacteria. In addition, other important features related to ESC for biomedical implant coatings include the ability to: (1) deposit different types of nanoparticles individually and in combination; (2) produce structurally and compositionally graded coatings; (3) provide uniform deposition on complex 3D geometries; (4) deposit multi-functional composite coatings using different types of materials for innovative applications; (5) functionalize the coatings through deposition of bioactive materials, during deposition or in post processing (e.g., by adding proteins); and (6) provide high productivity and cost effectiveness. If successful, the proposed system will help to realize nanoparticle based bioactive coatings on implants to significantly shorten the fixation time, reduce the chance of bacteria infection, and extend the implant life for tissue engineering. In addition, the system has potential for coatings for drug delivery, environmental decontamination, and protective clothing.