SMART-HIP: Smart bioactive nanocomposite coatings for enhanced hip protheses

全髋关节置换术已成为最成功的外科手术之一。通常情况下，该程序大大提高了接受者的生活质量，消除了使人衰弱的疼痛并恢复了活动能力。对于年龄超过60岁的标准患者，植入物通常预期持续10至20年。然而，由于该手术的成功，越来越多的人要求接受该手术，而且人口越来越年轻。随着预期寿命的增加和这一新的年轻患者群体，对假体性能的要求也在不断提高。金属对金属假体已被证明是表面置换和全髋关节置换的一个令人兴奋的新领域，减少了与标准金属对聚合物植入物相关的骨质溶解问题，以及允许使用更大直径的假体，从而允许更大的活动范围和更低的脱位风险。然而，已经发现了与对金属颗粒和金属离子释放的生物反应相关的问题，因此有动机减少两者。该项目将开发、测试和研究新型纳米复合材料、耐磨和抗离子释放PVD生物活性涂层的性能，以满足髋关节应用的严格要求。将在髋关节磨损模拟器上评估性能，以评价表面改性的寿命。将使用最先进的分析方法评价髋关节磨损模拟器中产生的纳米颗粒。除了减少磨损和离子释放外，纳米复合涂层还将提供自润滑、抗微生物性能和改善轴承表面的嵌入性等新的多功能益处。该提案是进一步发展工业和大学合作的独特机会，这些合作由以下因素产生：（1）该小组的跨学科性质;（2）纳米毒理学的新发展;（3）纳米颗粒的协调，多领域测试，包括评估暴露于纳米颗粒对人类健康的益处和风险的新方法。这一提议将导致更安全和更耐用的髋关节置换术的发展。此外，该技术还将适用于其他关节置换和其他关节医疗器械，包括椎间椎间盘置换。

Total hip joint replacements have become one of the most successful surgical procedures. Normally the procedure dramatically improves the quality of life for the recipient, eliminating the debilitating pain and restoring mobility. The implant would normally be expect to last for 10 to 20 years, in the standard patient, aged something over 60 years old. However, as a result of the success of the procedure, increasing numbers of individuals are requesting this procedure from a ever increasingly youthful population. With increasing life expectancy and this new group of younger patients, the demands on the performance of the prosthesis are ever increasing. Metal on metal prostheses have been shown to be an exciting new area for resurfacing and total hip replacements, reducing problems of osteolysis associated with the standard, metal on polymer implant, as well as allowing larger diameter prostheses to be used permitting a greater range of movement and less risk of dislocation. However, problems have been identified related to the biological response to both the metal particles and also the metal ion release and therefore there is a motivation to reduce both. This project will develop, test and study the properties of new nanocomposite, wear and ion release resistant PVD bioactive coatings, to meet the rigorous demands of the hip joint application. Performance will be assessed on a hip wear simulator to evaluate the longevity of the surface modifications. The nanoparticles generated in the hip wear simulator will be evaluated using state-of-the-art analytical methods. In addition to reducing wear and ion release, the nanocomposite coatings will offer novel multifunctional benefits of self-lubrication, antimicrobial properties and improved bedding in of the bearing surfaces. This proposal is a unique opportunity to further develop industry and university collaborations generated by: (1) the interdisciplinary nature of the group; (2) new developments in nanotoxicology; (3) coordinated, multifield testing of nanoparticles, including novel methods of assessing benefits and risks to health of humans from exposure to nanoparticles. This proposal will lead to the development of safer and more durable hip replacements. Moreover, the technology will also be applicable to other joint replacements and other articulating medical devices, including interspinal disc replacements.