SBIR Phase I: Customizable Meniscus Implant Prepared by dielectrophoretic Biofabrication

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）的第一阶段项目旨在开发一个半月板植入物的原型，使用细菌纤维素和一种新的生物制造工艺，介电泳微编织。由xylinum醋酸杆菌产生的纳米纤维素网络是具有独特的水凝胶样特性和生物相容性的生物材料，是软骨组织替代的理想选择。然而，对于诸如半月板之类的应用，需要指导纳米纤维的方向。弗吉尼亚理工大学发明了一种新的生物制造工艺，通过精确控制细菌在电场中的运动来控制纳米纤维素网络的形态。在这个项目中，将开发一种微织布机，一种根据患者的图像制造可定制的半月板植入物的设备。这将是生物材料在骨科领域的重大突破。该项目的更广泛影响是为医疗保健提供廉价但高性能的生物相容性材料的技术。全世界每年有超过1500万人患有膝关节衰竭。每年有超过22.5万人接受关节镜半月板修复手术，平均每人花费2.5万美元。目前市场上还没有令人满意的产品，迫切需要一种模拟天然半月板特性的新型生物材料。通过开发一种半月板植入物来替代受伤的天然半月板，有可能减少骨关节炎的患病率及其相关的经济成本。BC Genesis LLC是一家生物医学初创公司，致力于利用细菌培养纤维素生物材料来开发植入物和组织支架。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a prototype meniscal implant using bacterial cellulose and a novel biofabrication process, dielectrophoretic microweaving. Nanocellulose networks produced by the bacteria Acetobacter xylinum are biomaterials with unique hydrogel-like properties and biocompatibility that is ideal for cartilage tissue replacement. For applications such as meniscus there is however need to direct the nanofibril orientation. A new biofabrication process has been invented at Virginia Tech in which the precise control of bacterial motion in an electric field is used to control morphology of the nanocellulose network. In this project a microweaver, a device to manufacture customizable meniscus implants based on images from patients will be developed. This will be a major breakthrough in biomaterials for orthopedics applications. The broader impact of this project is technology for inexpensive but high performance, biocompatible materials for health care. Over 15 million people worldwide suffer from knee-joint failure each year. More than 225,000 people annually undergo arthroscopic meniscal repair at an average cost of $25,000 each. There are no satisfactory products on the market today and there is an urgent need for a new biomaterial that mimics properties of natural meniscus. By developing a meniscal implant that can substitute for the injured native meniscus, it may be possible to diminish the prevalence of osteoarthritis and its related economic costs. BC Genesis LLC is a biomedical start-up company working with technology for developing implants and tissue scaffolds by using bacteria to grow cellulose biomaterial.