Multifunctional biocoatings for orthopaedic and dental implants

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Joint replacement and dental implants represent the successful applications of synthetic materials in the treatment of diseases and the restoration of tissue functions. Some of the remaining issues include possible infection, slow bone healing process, and early implant loosening. With the steady increase in the number of joint replacements performed (nearly 50,000 hospitalizations for hip and knee replacements in 2002-2003 in Canada), there is an urgent need for novel orthopaedic and dental implants that can integrate with bone earlier and last longer.    To meet the challenges, this biomaterials research proposal will be focused on the development of multifunctional biocoatings. A multifunctional biocoating is a coating that possesses high biological functions (bioactivity), pharmacological functions (anti-infection, anti-osteolysis), as well as mechanical functions (robust). The idea is to apply the multifunctional biocoatings to orthopaedic and dental implants to achieve both early implant fixation and longevity. Research projects will be established to address key issues in multifunctional biocoatings, from the processing of novel bioactive coatings, surface design, drug delivery, to coating integrity. Significant progress is expected in the following directions: the design, processing and quality control of bioactive coatings; the interaction with drugs (antibiotics, bisphosphonates); and the development of clinically relevant testing standards. The research program will have significant contributions to the development of new generation of orthopaedic implants, to the health care, and to the training of students.