Novel Hybrid and Nanocomposite Materials for Biomedical Applications

发达国家预期寿命的增加导致与年龄有关的骨骼疾病，如骨关节炎和骨质疏松症的增加，对替代骨和与骨结合的材料的需求也相应增加。此外，全球每年有超过220万患者接受骨骼创伤或肿瘤切除手术。自体骨移植是骨修复的金标准。然而，有限的组织可用性和在提取部位的发病率导致了人工材料的骨置换和再生的高度兴趣。在未来5年，该研究项目将重点发展：1)新型生物活性玻璃和可生物降解的天然和合成聚合物混合物；2)溶胶-凝胶-水热衍生的骨再生微晶玻璃纳米结构；3)用于钛种植体的生物活性和抗菌涂层，有助于增强与骨的界面结合；4)用于颅面重建的新型快速定型可注射生物活性骨水泥。主要目标是培养在骨组织工程和再生医学领域全面发展的毕业生。整个项目将为六(6)名博士生提供培训，让他们接触到生物材料合成和表征技术的前沿研究。学员还将熟练掌握生物检测的发展。毕业后，这些学生将在将生物技术从实验室推向市场和临床方面发挥领导作用。这项研究的成功有望为再生医学的应用带来重大的技术发展，并为加拿大带来经济效益。

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.