Effect of mechanical properties and surface nanostructure on phosphate-based glasses biomedical performance

该项目将专注于智能磷酸盐玻璃，可以同时诱导组织再生（硬和软），并通过控制金属离子（如Ag+，Cu 2+，Zn 2+，Ga 3+，Ce 4+）的释放来提供抗菌效果。随着组织愈合，抗菌离子的缓慢释放可以防止炎症反应，减少患者的恢复时间。溶胶-凝胶和凝聚技术将用于制造用于伤口愈合的磷酸盐玻璃纤维垫，以及通过3D打印制造用于骨再生的3D支架。玻璃的结构和形态特征将使用多技术方法进行研究，包括电子显微镜（SEM和TEM），热分析，物理吸附，X射线衍射和X射线吸收光谱在同步辐射设施。将确定生物材料的机械性能及其变化和降解（随时间/环境）;将研究其对细胞-生物材料相互作用、生物材料降解性、抗菌效果的影响。特别是，动态（原位）机械测试将允许评估生物材料在不同条件（例如温度变化、细胞外基质环境、时间）下的反应。

The project will focus on smart phosphate-based glasses that can simultaneously induce tissue regeneration (hard and soft) and deliver antimicrobial effects via controlled release of metallic ions (e.g. Ag+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Ga3+, Ce4+). The slow release of antibacterial ions as the tissue heals prevents inflammatory reactions and reduce patient's recovery time. The sol-gel and coacervation techniques will be used for fabrication of phosphate glass fibre mats for wound healing and 3D scaffolds via 3D printing for bone regeneration. Structural and morphological characterisation of the glasses will be investigated using a multi-technique approach involving electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), thermal analysis, physisorption, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy at synchrotron radiation facilities. The mechanical properties of the biomaterials and their changes and degradation (in time/with the environment) will be established; their effect on cells-biomaterial interaction, biomaterial degradability, antibacterial effect will be investigated. In particular, dynamic (in-situ) mechanical testing will allow the response of the biomaterial under different conditions (e.g. change in temperature, extracellular matrix environment, time) to be assessed.