Formation of bone-like materials for bone repair and regeneration. A successful outcome for this project would lead to the production and application of new bone-like calcium phosphate materials. Enhanced bioactivity of this material would lead to higher but controlled rates of calcium phosphate release. An understanding of the formation process of these materials and the controlled release of calcium phosphates has the potential to slow the development of metabolic diseases such as osteoporosis ....Formation of bone-like materials for bone repair and regeneration. A successful outcome for this project would lead to the production and application of new bone-like calcium phosphate materials. Enhanced bioactivity of this material would lead to higher but controlled rates of calcium phosphate release. An understanding of the formation process of these materials and the controlled release of calcium phosphates has the potential to slow the development of metabolic diseases such as osteoporosis. The WHO reports that osteoporosis is the second largest health care problem world-wide. In 2002, 44 million people in the USA were estimated to be at risk. This and similar figures in Australia and around the world emphasize the urgency of understanding and appropriately combating weak bone degenerative diseases.Read moreRead less
Development of a Prothrombogenic Bone Graft Substitute. The clinical demand for bone is massive and to counter this bone can be either harvested from the patient or bone substitutes are used. The success or failure of a bone substitute is determined the instant it come into contact with blood. The surfaces of traditional biomaterials induce a foreign body reaction. The aim of this project is to test the bone forming capacity of a biomaterial that is optimised to produce a natural response from ....Development of a Prothrombogenic Bone Graft Substitute. The clinical demand for bone is massive and to counter this bone can be either harvested from the patient or bone substitutes are used. The success or failure of a bone substitute is determined the instant it come into contact with blood. The surfaces of traditional biomaterials induce a foreign body reaction. The aim of this project is to test the bone forming capacity of a biomaterial that is optimised to produce a natural response from the blood. This response will lead to the formation new viable tissue and eventually bone. Such a material will cause faster bone healing, less pain from graft sites, shorter hospital stays and shorter waiting lists. Read moreRead less
Surface engineering of biomaterials for optimal bone bonding characteristics. The ideal bone-implant material is hydroxyapatite. Chemically similar to bone mineral, hydroxyapatite is capable of inducing bone ongrowth. An ideal surface coating for metal hip implants, plasma spraying has been the preferred commercial hydroxyapatite coating technique. Until recently, it was always presumed that the bioactivity of hydroxyapatite resulted from its surface chemistry. However, a recent study has shown ....Surface engineering of biomaterials for optimal bone bonding characteristics. The ideal bone-implant material is hydroxyapatite. Chemically similar to bone mineral, hydroxyapatite is capable of inducing bone ongrowth. An ideal surface coating for metal hip implants, plasma spraying has been the preferred commercial hydroxyapatite coating technique. Until recently, it was always presumed that the bioactivity of hydroxyapatite resulted from its surface chemistry. However, a recent study has shown that the bioactivity of HAp coatings strongly correlates with surface roughness on the scale of bone cells. This project will explore cell-attachment behaviour for hydroxyapatite coatings prepared by plasma spraying compared with engineered surface morphology/chemistry by microlithography and vapour coating.Read moreRead less
Thermo-electro-chemo-mechanical properties of biological systems. The proposal is aimed at developing a new theoretical framework for piezoelectric biological materials and structures, through theoretical analysis, computation and numerical simulations, as well as experimental investigations, to produce high-reliability, high-performance hydrogel components and smart soft tissue structures. It is envisaged that successful outcomes of this program will give the Australian biological industry a te ....Thermo-electro-chemo-mechanical properties of biological systems. The proposal is aimed at developing a new theoretical framework for piezoelectric biological materials and structures, through theoretical analysis, computation and numerical simulations, as well as experimental investigations, to produce high-reliability, high-performance hydrogel components and smart soft tissue structures. It is envisaged that successful outcomes of this program will give the Australian biological industry a technology edge over their competitors and provide easy-to-use guidelines for the design of smart biological systems.Read moreRead less
Structures and properties of tissue engineering matrices for cartilage and bone: Imaging, visualising and modelling tissue/scaffold constructs in 3D. Tissue engineering of bone and cartilage has the potential to lower costs and improve outcomes. The first stage requires the design of porous 3D scaffolds. To date they have been found less than ideal for clinical applications. Our ability to design and optimise scaffolds has been ad hoc, as local structure and properties have not been measurable ....Structures and properties of tissue engineering matrices for cartilage and bone: Imaging, visualising and modelling tissue/scaffold constructs in 3D. Tissue engineering of bone and cartilage has the potential to lower costs and improve outcomes. The first stage requires the design of porous 3D scaffolds. To date they have been found less than ideal for clinical applications. Our ability to design and optimise scaffolds has been ad hoc, as local structure and properties have not been measurable during tissue growth and repair. In this proposal, an interdisciplinary group from three universities will utilise microCT imaging, visualisation and numerical modelling to determine these structures and properties. This will provide an invaluable understanding for the further development of tissue engineering scaffolds.Read moreRead less
Improving orthopaedic/dental devices by surface chemical modification. The estimated world market for the orthopaedic implants is expected to be US$125 billion by 2010. Australia imports most of it's orthopaedic implants with an estimated cost in excess of AUD300 million by 2010. The current rate of prosthetic failures in orthopaedic patients is unacceptably high. The project aims to develop new implants that integrate better into bone, thus reducing the rate of revision arthroplasty. This would ....Improving orthopaedic/dental devices by surface chemical modification. The estimated world market for the orthopaedic implants is expected to be US$125 billion by 2010. Australia imports most of it's orthopaedic implants with an estimated cost in excess of AUD300 million by 2010. The current rate of prosthetic failures in orthopaedic patients is unacceptably high. The project aims to develop new implants that integrate better into bone, thus reducing the rate of revision arthroplasty. This would lead to a significant reduction in the cost of health care in our aging population and improve the quality of life for prosthetic recipients. Knowledge gained will facilitate the optimization of orthopaedic and implant dentistry, promoting the technology transfer from academia to the relevant medical device industry.Read moreRead less
Drug-delivery coating for a new generation of orthopaedic implants. In Australia, the number of people using artificial implants in orthopaedic and dental surgeries is rapidly increasing due to the higher average age of the population and higher expectations for an active and healthy life. The project will enhance the success rate of titanium implants by increasing the strength and stability of tissue at the interface between implant and host, particularly in case of hip joint implants, reducing ....Drug-delivery coating for a new generation of orthopaedic implants. In Australia, the number of people using artificial implants in orthopaedic and dental surgeries is rapidly increasing due to the higher average age of the population and higher expectations for an active and healthy life. The project will enhance the success rate of titanium implants by increasing the strength and stability of tissue at the interface between implant and host, particularly in case of hip joint implants, reducing the need for revision surgery. Read moreRead less
Advanced nanoparticles as biocompatible antioxidant agents with targeting functionality. This proposal addresses the core issue of designing nanoparticles capable of delivering antioxidant properties in a biological environment. The major benefits to Australia are two-fold: first will be in the improved health outcomes by providing materials that are better suited to targeted therapeutic delivery, thereby improving the quality of life and reducing the need for further surgical intervention; the ....Advanced nanoparticles as biocompatible antioxidant agents with targeting functionality. This proposal addresses the core issue of designing nanoparticles capable of delivering antioxidant properties in a biological environment. The major benefits to Australia are two-fold: first will be in the improved health outcomes by providing materials that are better suited to targeted therapeutic delivery, thereby improving the quality of life and reducing the need for further surgical intervention; the second is in providing greater knowledge about nanoparticle interactions with the biological environment. This project will assist in the training of researchers in this field which will in turn provide economic growth through the development of Australian industries.Read moreRead less
X-Ray Activation of Photocatalytic Titania-Coated Biomedical Implants in Situ. The main causes of biomedical implant failure are loosening and infection, which may require revision surgery. The project has the potential to solve these widespread and expensive problems by formation of a coating of strongly (chemically) bonded and photocatalytically active titania on the titanium implant surface and short-term low-dose X-irradiation. This work has the potential to provide the biomedical industry w ....X-Ray Activation of Photocatalytic Titania-Coated Biomedical Implants in Situ. The main causes of biomedical implant failure are loosening and infection, which may require revision surgery. The project has the potential to solve these widespread and expensive problems by formation of a coating of strongly (chemically) bonded and photocatalytically active titania on the titanium implant surface and short-term low-dose X-irradiation. This work has the potential to provide the biomedical industry with a revolutionary development in both implant coating design and quality with self-disinfection capacity after implantation.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668506
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
A Multi-Axis Biomaterials Testing Facility. Damage to bones and joints, due to injury or diseases such as osteoporosis and arthritis, is a major cause of disability and cost to the nation. Australia's ageing population contributes not only to an increasing incidence of such conditions, but also to more patients out-living implants such as replacement joints. In 2001-2, Australia spent over $800 million on joint replacement. Because over 11% of procedures are revisions of failed implants, even sm ....A Multi-Axis Biomaterials Testing Facility. Damage to bones and joints, due to injury or diseases such as osteoporosis and arthritis, is a major cause of disability and cost to the nation. Australia's ageing population contributes not only to an increasing incidence of such conditions, but also to more patients out-living implants such as replacement joints. In 2001-2, Australia spent over $800 million on joint replacement. Because over 11% of procedures are revisions of failed implants, even small improvements in implant life represent significant cost savings. By accurately simulating conditions within the body, this biomechanical testing facility will lead to new developments in implant designs and materials, in turn improving quality of life, productivity and treatment costs.Read moreRead less