Synthesis and characterization of novel biomaterials based on three-dimensional (3D) multifunctional titanium substrates

 

Project coordinator: Grzegorz Sulka

Duration of the project: 2018-2021

 

Project is carried out in the cooperation with the Biomaterials Group at the Warsaw University of Technology led by prof. Wojciech Święszkowski

 

Along with the development of civilization, a significant prolongation of life occurred. At the same time, we became exposed to the increasing number of civilization illnesses, especially those related to elderly age. One of such diseases is osteoporosis, an illness attributed to bone density loss, which results in increased susceptibility to fractures. As a consequence, the need for bone implantations significantly increased. Naturally, the need for new, multifunctional prosthetic materials and methods for their synthesis also emerged.

Among different techniques for synthesizing implantable materials, one with increasing interest is nanotechnology methods, such as anodic oxidation (anodization). Similarly, rapidly developing 3D printing is becoming more and more used. What is more, by combining both approaches it may be possible to create a material that will possess desired mechanical properties (similar to those for bone) and have appropriate porosity, shape or even color. It is essential, especially when regenerative or reconstruction medicines are being concerned. The possibility of synthesizing personalized implants will allow faster and more effective treatment of fractures or reconstruction of significant bone losses. Moreover, due to the incorporation of such materials with, e.g., drug molecules, which will inhibit bacterial infections, the healing process, and patient’s convalescence will take much less time.

Therefore, the project hypothesis says that by combining computer modeling, 3D printing and anodization methods it is possible to synthesize multifunctional three-dimensional titanium-based materials with complex micro and nanoporosity that will have desired properties. Authors of this project suggest that such materials will have an ability to enhance osseointegration and, at the same time, due to incorporating, e.g., antibiotics, suppress bacterial adhesion to the implant surface. Therefore, proposed within this project materials seems to be an interesting alternative for the conventionally used implants.

Computer modeling methods will be applied to predict the porous structure and mechanical properties of titanium scaffolds. Such three-dimensional models will then be printed using a selective laser melting (SLM) method. Subsequently, synthesized titanium scaffolds will be used for the anodization process to receive nanostructural titanium oxide layers on Ti. Then, as-received structures will be functionalized by the deposition of silver and/or zinc oxide nanoparticles known for their antibacterial properties. Moreover, a drug release test from the synthesized 3D porous scaffolds will be performed. Two model pharmaceuticals will be used for the determination of release kinetics. The microbiological tests will be applied for the assessment of the antibacterial properties of the selected samples. Finally, the bioactivity and biocompatibility of the synthesized structures will be examined.

The results obtained within this project will give an upright description of novel three-dimensional and multifunctional biomaterials based on titanium. Furthermore, the evaluation of their applicability will be possible, which may significantly impact the development of different fields of science and medicine.

 

The results of our research may be found in the following articles:

I. Zgłobicka, A. Chmielewska, E. Topal, K. Kutukova, J. Gluch, P. Kruger, C. Kilroy, W. Święszkowski, K.J. Kurzydłowski, E. Zschech, 3D diatom-designed and selective laser melting (SLM) manufactured metallic structures, Scientific Reports 9 (2019) 19777(1-9)