Novel Hybrid and Nanocomposite Materials for Biomedical Applications

发达国家预期寿命的延长导致骨关节炎和骨质疏松症等与年龄相关的骨骼疾病增加，对能够取代骨并与骨结合的材料的需求也相应增加。此外，全世界每年有超过220万名患者因骨骼创伤或肿瘤切除而接受手术。骨修复的黄金标准是自体移植。然而，有限的组织可获得性和拔除部位的发病率导致了人们对用于骨替代和再生的人工材料的高度兴趣。在接下来的5年里，该研究计划将专注于开发：1)新型生物活性玻璃和可生物降解的天然和合成聚合物杂化材料；2)用于骨再生的溶胶-凝胶-水热衍生微晶玻璃纳米结构；3)用于钛植入物的生物活性和抗菌涂层，有助于增强与骨的界面结合；以及4)用于颅面重建的新型快速固化和可注射的生物活性骨水泥。主要目标是在骨组织工程和再生医学领域培养全面发展的毕业生。整个计划将为六(6)名博士生提供培训，使他们接触到生物材料合成和表征技术的尖端研究。受训人员还将熟练掌握生物检测技术的开发。毕业后，这些学生将在将生物技术从实验室带入市场和临床方面发挥领导作用。这项研究的成功预计将为再生医学的应用带来重大的技术开发，并为加拿大带来经济利益。

The rise in life expectancy in developed countries has led to an increase in age-related skeletal diseases such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis with corresponding increase in demand for materials that can replace and integrate with bone. In addition, over 2.2 million patients per year worldwide undergo surgery for skeletal trauma or tumor resection. The gold standard for bone repair is the autograft. However, limited tissue availability and morbidity at the extraction site have resulted in a high interest in artificial materials for bone replacement and regeneration. Over the next 5 years, the research program will focus on developing: 1) novel bioactive glass and biodegradable natural and synthetic polymer hybrids; 2) sol-gel-hydrothermal derived glass-ceramic nanostructures for bone regeneration; 3) bioactive and antimicrobial coatings for titanium implants that will help enhance the interfacial bond with bone; and 4) novel fast setting and injectable bioactive bone cements for craniofacial reconstruction. The main objective is to train well rounded graduates in the field of bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The overall program will provide training for six (6) PhD students exposing them to cutting edge research in biomaterials synthesis and characterization techniques. Trainees will also become skilled in the development of bioassays. Upon graduation, these students will take leadership roles in bringing biotechnology from the laboratory to the marketplace and clinic. The success of this research is expected to result in significant technology development for applications in regenerative medicine and economical benefit to Canada.