Development and High Resolution Characterization of Bone-Interfacing Biomaterials

骨界面植入物在骨科和牙科应用中恢复患者的功能和生活质量是必不可少的。这些种植体与骨的结合是种植体成功的关键因素之一。然而，人们对种植体-骨界面的纳米级结构和化学完整性知之甚少，二维成像方法往往会导致误解。为了长期改善种植体材料的骨结合，本研究将从两个方面进行研究。1)通过高分辨率和多维透射电镜和光谱学技术的发展和优化，将阐明组织-植入物界面的键合机制。我们最近的电子断层扫描工作将扩展到将金属界面的三维结构完整性与骨骼的三维化学组成相关联。2)这些技术将用于探索新开发的纳米生物材料（金属和陶瓷）的结构与其性能之间的关系。将建立表面形貌和化学对骨结合动力学的作用。通过利用加拿大电子显微镜中心的全套仪器，其中包括两台世界上分辨率最高的显微镜，我们的研究将能够在多个空间、光谱和时间维度上以前所未有的分辨率探测生物材料与组织的表面界面。**这项研究体现了对该领域的新颖贡献，特别是在提出的调查层面。这项工作不仅将提供纳米和原子分辨率的键合机制信息，而且还将在三维空间中进行，减少与常用的二维成像技术相关的误解。确定纳米级表面特征、化学和生物矿化之间的直接关系，将对生物材料工程的多学科领域产生重大益处，并最终导致植入物成功率的提高。这些发现最终可以为矿化和种植体与骨结合的基本过程提供更深入的知识。

Bone-interfacing implants are essential in orthopaedic and dental applications to restore function and quality of life to patients. The bonding of these implants with bone is one of the critical factors for implant success. However, little is known about the nanoscale structural and chemical integrity of the implant-bone interface, and two-dimensional imaging methods can often lead to misinterpretation. In order to improve bone-bonding of implant materials over the long term, two areas of study will be pursued in this research. 1) The bonding mechanisms at the tissue-implant interface will be elucidated via the development and optimization of high-resolution and multi-dimensional transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. Our recent work with electron tomography will be extended to correlate the three-dimensional structural integrity of metallic interfaces to bone with its three-dimensional chemical makeup. 2) These techniques will be used to explore the relationships between the structure of newly developed nanobiomaterials (metallic and ceramic) and their properties. The role of surface topography and chemistry on the kinetics of bone-bonding will be established. By utilizing the comprehensive suite of instruments at the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy, which includes two of the world's highest resolution microscopes, our studies will be able to probe the biomaterial surface interface with tissue to unprecedented resolution in multiple spatial, spectroscopic and temporal dimensions.**This research embodies novel contributions to this field, particularly at the level of investigation proposed. Not only will this work provide nanometer and atomic resolution information on the bonding mechanisms, but it will do so in three-dimensions, reducing misinterpretation associated with commonly employed two-dimensional imaging techniques. Determining a direct relationship between nanoscale surface features, chemistry and biomineralization will have a significant benefit to the multidisciplinary field of biomaterials engineering and ultimately lead to improved implant success. These findings can ultimately provide a more in-depth knowledge of the fundamental processes of mineralization and implant bonding to bone.