Fracture Fixation with Absorbable Composites

这笔拨款将资助用于生物医学应用的复合材料的研究。该材料将由一种可吸收的聚合物组成，用磷酸钙基纤维增强。本研究的目标之一是使复合材料在两年的时间内降解成接近中性的降解产物。研究人员打算测试纤维的机械和化学特性，生产复合材料，并进行体内测试。这项研究很重要，因为它可能导致可吸收骨折固定装置的发展，这将消除第二次手术移除硬件的需要。由于材料应允许负荷逐渐转移到愈合骨，应力屏蔽的需要应被消除。这些材料也可以用于控制骨愈合部位的生长和分化因子的释放。* * *

9310070 Alexander This grant will fund research to develop composites for biomedical applications. The materials will consist of an absorbable polymer reinforced with calcium phosphate based fibers. One of the goals of this research is to have the composite degrade over a period of two years into near neutral degradation products. The investigators intend to test the mechanical and chemical characteristics of the fibers, produce the composites, and perform in vivo testing. This research is important since it could lead to the development of absorbable fracture fixation devices that will eliminate the need for second surgeries to remove hardware. Since the materials should allow the gradual transfer of the load to the healing bone, the need for stress shielding should be eliminated. These materials should also be able to be used for the controlled release of growth and differentiation factors to bone healing sites. ***