NIRT: Nanostructured Functionally Graded Metalloceramic Biomaterials

这项提案是对NSF 03-043纳米科学与工程倡议的响应，NIRT类别：纳米结构、新现象和量子控制。该奖项授予阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校(UAB)，旨在研究纳米结构金属陶瓷材料，该材料显示出从纳米结构块状金属到纳米结构陶瓷表面的无缝过渡。有了这一奖项，Vohra教授和他的团队(由物理学家、生物材料和生物医学工程师、细胞生物学家和一个工业合作伙伴组成)将开发用于整形外科植入物的耐磨和细胞友好的生物材料涂层，这将受益于具有金属核心以及超硬和光滑的纳米结构陶瓷关节表面。对纳米结构金属陶瓷生物材料的材料科学、机械磨损行为和细胞生物学的基本理解将是该奖项的成果，这些研究可能会导致这些材料在人体内具有更好的性能。该奖项将包括三个主要领域：1)开发工艺科学和技术，以减少全髋关节和膝关节金属植入物关节承重部件的摩擦磨损，方法是沉积各种硬度大于50Giga Pascal的三元纳米结构功能梯度金属陶瓷涂层(钛-氮化硼和硼-碳氮化物)；2)展示这些涂层在当前最先进材料的基础上增强的附着力、耐磨性和表面硬度；以及3)进行体外研究，比较骨髓间充质干细胞在标准微米级羟基磷灰石和钛纳米结构金属陶瓷表面的附着和成骨分化情况。一家领先的生物医学植入物制造商将对该奖项开发的纳米结构功能梯度金属陶瓷材料进行评估。该奖项将有助于提供创新的纳米技术劳动力发展计划，包括纳米结构生物材料、细胞与生物材料表面的相互作用以及纳米技术工具和材料的商业化方面的核心课程和研讨会。该奖项资助的研究生将在工业界实习一学期。在少数族裔教师的积极参与下，将实施纳米科学及其应用方面的教师研究经验(RET)计划。数学和物理科学局的材料研究部和工程局共同资助这一奖项。

This proposal was received in response to Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative, NSF 03-043, category NIRT: Nanoscale Structures, Novel Phenomena, and Quantum Control. This award to University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is to study nanostructured metalloceramic materials that show a seamless transition from a nanostructured bulk metal to a nanostructured ceramic surface. With this award, Professor Vohra and his team consisting of physicists, biomaterial and biomedical engineers, cell biologist and an industrial partner will develop wear-resistant and cell friendly biomaterials coatings for use in orthopedic implants, which would benefit from having a metallic core along with ultra-hard and smooth nanostructured ceramic articulating surfaces. The fundamental understanding of materials science, mechanical wear behavior and cell biology of nanostructured metalloceramic biomaterials would be an outcome of this award, and these studies may lead to better performance of these materials in the human body. There will be three primary thrust areas with this award: 1) develop processing science and technology for reducing friction and wear on the articulating, load-bearing components of total hip and knee metallic implants by depositing various ternary (Titanium-Boron Nitride and Boron-Carbon Nitride) nanostructured functionally graded metalloceramic coatings with hardness greater than 50 Giga Pascal; 2) demonstrate enhanced adhesion, wear resistance, and surface hardness of these coatings over the current state-of-the-art materials; and 3) perform in vitro studies to compare the adhesion and osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells on the nanostructured metalloceramic surfaces with standard micron-scale hydroxyapatite and titanium. A leading manufacturer of biomedical implants will evaluate the nanostructured functionally graded metalloceramic materials developed by this award. The award will help to provide an innovative nanotechnology workforce development program with core courses and workshops in nanostructured biomaterials, interaction of cells with biomaterials surfaces and commercialization of nanotechnology tools and materials. The graduate students supported by this award will have a semester-long internship at industry. A Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program in nanoscale science and its applications will be implemented with active participation of underrepresented minority teachers.The Division of Materials Research in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences and the Directorate for Engineering jointly fund this award.