Processing and Characterization of Functionally Graded Coatings for Bio-Medical Implants

本研究计划的目的是开发一种用于骨科和牙科植入物的功能梯度羟基磷灰石（FGHA）涂层，具有定制的抗菌成分释放速率。在这种情况下，抗微生物元件将在植入后立即与涂层表面处的大部分无定形层一起具有较高的释放速率，并且其释放速率将随着涂层结晶度的增加而逐渐降低。此外，该提案旨在通过创建不仅与并列骨而且与金属基底形成牢固持久结合的涂层来增加矫形/牙科植入物的使用寿命。所有这些都将转化为患者接受矫形或牙科植入物，具有上级生物活性涂层和集成的抗菌成分。因此，在本发明中，患者可以通过减少抗生素的摄入沿着更快地恢复正常的生活方式，同时减少感染及其后续并发症的风险。拟议的研究调查了一种新的涂层材料，其具有定制的溶解速率，可以与骨生长相匹配，以及逐渐释放的抗菌成分，可以对下一代骨科和牙科植入物的开发产生重大影响，耐久性，沿着更好的生物反应。该教育计划涉及四项互补举措，包括：基于美国两所大学和日本国家材料科学研究所三个不同部门之间合作的跨学科研究，新的先进材料研究生课程开发，包括生物材料，本科生和研究生之间的团队合作以及特别尝试雇用女性，代表性不足和残疾学生

The aim of this research program is to develop a functionally graded Hydroxyapatite (FGHA) coating for orthopedic and dental implants with a tailored release rate of an antimicrobial component. In this case, the antimicrobial element will have a higher release rate together with the mostly amorphous layer at the surface of the coating immediately after implantation, and its release rate will gradually decreases with increasing crystallinity of the coating. Furthermore, the proposal aims to increase the service-life of an orthopedic/ dental implant by creating coatings that forms a strong, long lasting bond not only with the juxtaposed bone, but also with the metal substrate. All this will translate into the patient receiving an orthopedic or dental implant, with a superior bioactive coating with an integrated antimicrobial component. As a result, the patient could return to a normal lifestyle sooner with the reduced antibiotics intake along with less risk of infection and its subsequent complications.The proposed study investigates a new coating material with tailored dissolution rate that can match with bone growth together with gradually released antimicrobial components that can have a great impact on the development of the next generation of orthopedic and dental implants with improved durability, along with better biological responses. The education plan involves four complementary initiatives including: interdisciplinary research based on collaboration between three different departments at two university in US and the Japan National Institute of Materials Science, new graduate course development on Advanced Materials including Biomaterials, team work between undergraduate and graduate students and a special attempt to hiring female, underrepresented and disabled students