SGER: Interfacial Phenomena Related to Prevention of Biofouling

这项探索性研究的重点是介孔类钻石碳(DLC)的加工、表征和建模，用于人工内脏器官的膜。类金刚石因其优异的机械、摩擦学和化学性能而被认为可用于医疗器械。炎症反应、纤维蛋白原吸收和血小板黏附被减少或消除，因为DLC是纯碳的一种形式。到目前为止，人们的注意力只集中在将DLC作为一种结构生物材料开发上。在过去的工作中，已经使用脉冲激光沉积(PLD)创建了含有生物功能纳米晶体的DLC复合材料。为了达到最佳的生物相容性，生物功能金属种类被选择用于特定的目的。例如，为了将抗菌和抗炎特性传递到DLC表面，在沉积中加入了银纳米晶。PI对DLC-银纳米复合材料进行了广泛的研究。这项探索性的研究是基于这样一个假设，即脉冲激光沉积可以产生介孔类金刚石。将对工艺参数进行优化，以创建具有5-10 nm大小的连续网格孔洞的DLC薄膜。与目前所有以聚合物为基础的人造器官膜相比，这些膜的寿命将会延长。本研究的具体目标如下：1.制备新型介孔类钻石碳结构。用STEM-Z显微镜、HRTEM、拉曼光谱和力学测试(包括纳米压痕、磨损和粘附性)表征介孔类金刚石纳米复合材料的界面性质3.确定其生物相容性：细胞毒性和血栓形成。这种介孔形态不仅对人工器官的使用很重要，可植入的人工肾脏和可植入的生物传感器也可能受益于具有相似形态的表面。这些研究将产生对材料性能的总体评估，并可用于支持未来的设备开发。这项探索性研究旨在确定各种孔处理技术的可行性。这项探索性研究的更广泛影响是将研究中的概念纳入佐治亚理工学院的研究生生物材料课程。此外，非政府组织还就纳米结构生物材料研究方面的工作和教育机会向代表性不足的少数群体进行了外联。这项研究可能有助于开发传感器或净化器等专门的医疗设备。

Narayan, Roger J.GA Tech Res Corp - GIT "SGER: Interfacial Phenomena Related to Biofouling"The focus of this exploratory research is on the processing, characterization and modeling of mesoporous diamondlike carbon (DLC) for use as a membrane in artificial internal organs. DLC has been considered for use in medical devices due to its exceptional mechanical, tribological and chemical properties. Inflammatory reactions, fibrinogen absorption, and platelet adhesion are reduced or eliminated, as DLC is a form of pure carbon. Attention has until now only focused on developing DLC as a structural biomaterial. DLC composites have been created in past work that contained biologically functional nanocrystals using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). In order to achieve optimal biocompatibility, biofunctional metal species were chosen for specific purposes. For example, in order to convey antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties to the DLC surface, silver nanocrystals were incorporated into the deposit. The DLC-silvernanocomposite has been extensively studied by the PI. The exploratory research is based on the hypothesis that mesoporous DLC can be created using pulsed laser deposition. Processing parameters will be optimized to create a DLC film with a continuous grid of 5-10 nm sized pores. These films will have an increased lifetime as compared with current artificial organ membranes, all of which are polymer-based. The specific goals of this research are as follows:1. To process novel mesoporous diamondlike carbon structures2. To characterize the interfacial properties of mesoporous DLC nanocomposites using STEM-Z microscopy, HRTEM, Raman spectroscopy, and mechanical testing (including nanoindentation, wear, and adhesion)3. To determine the biocompatibility: Cytotoxicity and thrombogenicity.This mesoporous morphology is not only important for use in artificial organs; implanatable artificial kidneys and implantable biosensors may also benefit from surfaces with similar morphologies. These studies will yield a general assessment of material properties and can be used to support future device development. This exploratory research is intended to determine the feasibility of various pore processing techniques. The broader impacts of this exploratory research are incorporation of concepts from research into the graduate biomaterials course at Georgia Tech. Also, outreach to underrepresented minorities regarding job and educational opportunities in nanostructured biomaterials research has been undertaken by the PI. The research could be helpful in developing specialized medical devices such as sensors or purifiers.