Development and validation of novel bioactive porous biodegradable metals for high performance biomaterials

根据科学网的核心收集，在过去10年里，关于生物医学应用的可生物降解金属(BM)的报道从2005年的50篇增加到2000篇。这些金属一直吸引着学术界和医疗行业的研究人员，因为它们可能会给医疗产品带来革命性的变化。BM的发展是由材料科学和工程、腐蚀科学和金属加工技术的先进知识推动的。最新的具体发展之一是引入了多孔BM，它具有作为骨支架材料的巨大潜力，具有最佳的强度和腐蚀性能。BM研究的未来方向是开发具有生物功能的新BM，并建立具体的实验程序。 在过去的5年里，我一直在BM研究的材料科学和腐蚀方面工作，我提出了这个NSERC的发现计划，长期目标是发展世界公认的新型BM及其腐蚀评估方面的专业知识。在5年内，该计划有两个短期目标(STO)要通过两条结构化路线来实现：STO-1：针对骨支架应用开发生物活性铁基多孔BM；STO-2：在模拟骨环境条件下评估其腐蚀行为。据《自然科学报告》报道，STO-1的研究始于开发多孔铁-聚乳酸-乙醇酸的新复合材料。我们将进一步开发多孔铁作为整合不同聚合物和生物活性化合物的骨架，并研究结构-过程-性能关系的基本原理。在STO-2中，我们重点使用模拟骨环境的试验台和在线腐蚀监测系统来评估它们的腐蚀行为。我们之前曾致力于开发基于微透析的监测系统和模拟动脉状况的试验台。 在5年内，我们将解决当前对生物活性生物材料和具体腐蚀评估方法的挑战和需求。我们将为多孔BM作为具有最佳机械和腐蚀性能的新型生物活性生物材料的潜力提供有效的证据。我们还设想创建适用于其他领域的新技术平台，包括用于催化的生物活性多孔复合材料或膜，以及石油和天然气行业管道和其他设备内腐蚀的在线监测系统。在这一发现计划中，我们既提高了知识，又培训了高素质的人员(HQP)，以获得加拿大关键领域的专业知识。通过利用我作为新教授的种子基金，招聘了3名HQP，并正在启动计划中的工作。NSERC发现基金的支持将是他们继续工作和培训的一大助力。

According to the Web of Science core collection, reported works on biodegradable metals (BM) for biomedical applications have been growing from <50 publications in 2005 to >2,000 publications over the past 10 years. These metals have been attracting researchers in academia and medical industries alike as they can potentially revolutionize the medical products. The development of BM is fostered by the advancing knowledge in the science and engineering of materials, the science of corrosion and the technology of metal processing. One of the latest specific development is the introduction of porous BM that offer great potential as bone scaffold materials with optimum strength and corrosion behavior. The future of BM research goes toward developing new BM with bio-functionalities and establishing specific experimental procedures. Having worked in the material science and corrosion aspects of BM research for the past 5 years, I am proposing this NSERC discovery program with long-term objective to develop world-recognized expertise in novel BM and their corrosion assessment. Within 5 years, the program has 2 short-term objectives (STOs) to be achieved in 2 structured lines: STO-1: Developing bioactive iron-based porous BM in view of bone scaffold applications; STO-2: Assessing their corrosion behavior under a simulated condition of bone environment. The research in STO-1 has been initiated with works on the development of new composites of porous iron-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) as reported in Nature’s Scientific Reports. We will further develop the porous iron as a backbone for incorporating different polymers and bioactive compounds and to investigate the fundamentals of structure-process-property relationship. Within STO-2, we focus on assessing their corrosion behavior using a test-bench that simulates bone environment integrated with an online corrosion monitoring system. We have previously worked in developing a microdialysis-based monitoring system and a test-bench for simulating arterial condition. Within 5 years, we will address the current challenge and need for bioactive biomaterials and specific corrosion assessment methods. We will bring valid evidence of porous BM potentiality as new bioactive biomaterials with optimum mechanical and corrosion properties. We also envisage to create new technological platforms applicable to other fields including bioactive porous composites or membranes for catalysis and online monitoring system for internal corrosion of pipeline and other equipment in oil and gas industry. In this discovery program, we both advance knowledge and train highly qualified personnel (HQP) to acquire expertise in the key areas for Canada. By utilizing my seed fund as new professor, 3 HQPs were recruited and are initiating work planned in this program. The support from NSERC discovery grant will be a big aid for the continuation of their work and training.