A New Approach Toward Efficacy of HA Coatings for Bio-Medical Implants

本研究的目的是开发用于牙科和骨科植入物的新一代磷酸钙涂层，其中膜的特性得到优化，可以增强生物活性，并与周围组织结合，从而延长涂层的使用寿命，加快患者的缓解速度。该方法是制备功能梯度的羟基磷灰石(HA)涂层，包括掺Y和不掺Y。Y可以引起体内对钙的初始吸收增加，从而选择性地吸附蛋白质来增强骨细胞的功能。涂层的分级结晶度性质可以提高植入物与骨之间的结合强度，以便接受关节或牙齿置换手术的患者可以迅速恢复正常生活方式。它的目标是通过创造与骨骼形成牢固、持久的结合的材料来延长植入物的使用寿命。这可以减少对植入物替换的需求，主要是对于有可能使用植入物较长时间的年轻患者。毫无疑问，拟议研究中用于研究新涂层技术和新涂层材料的设计标准可以对下一代骨科和牙科植入物的开发产生重大影响，这些植入物具有更好的结合并列骨的能力和耐用性。教育计划涉及：有利于学生工作和向双方学习的跨学科研究，PI将继续开发她的新研究生课程，包括生物材料，本科生将通过本科生研究选修课和特别尝试招收代表性不足和/或女性学生。

The objective of this research is to develop a new generation of calcium phosphate coatings for dental and orthopedic implants, in which film characterization is optimized, for enhanced bioactivity, and adhesion to the surrounding tissues for promotion of the coating lifetime and faster relief of the patient. The approach is to process a functionally graded hydroxyapatite (HA) coating with and without Yttrium doping. Yttrium can cause an increase in initial absorption of calcium in the body leading to select protein adsorption to enhance bone cell function. The graded crystallinity nature of the coating can improve bonding strength between implant and bone so that a patient who has received joint or dental replacement surgery may quickly return to a normal lifestyle. It aims to increase the service-life of an implant by creating materials that form a strong, long lasting, bond with bone. This can decrease the need for implant replacement mainly for younger patients with the potential of using an implant for longer period of time. Undoubtedly, design criteria used in the proposed study to investigate new coating techniques coupled with a new coating material can have great impact in the development of the next generation of orthopedic and dental implants with an improved ability to bind to juxtaposed bone and durability. The education plan involves: interdisciplinary research that can benefit the students to work and learn from both parties, PI will continue developing her new graduate course including Biomaterials, undergraduate students will become involved through undergraduate research elective course and the special attempts to recruit underrepresented and/or female student.