Research Projects

Metallic biomaterials have evolved over the years in favoring bone healing with better osteointegration and endothelization leading to tissue formation. However, bio inert metals like stainless steel, titanium and cobalt-chromium alloys have proven good biocompatibility, osteointegration, but these implants contradictorily have induced various post-implant complications. Some major issues addressing these complications are mechanical stability, poor tissue implant integration, inflammatory responses, and mainly second surgery for removal of implant a highly invasive procedure with increased risk factors. The major concern of this project is to address the above-mentioned limitations of conventional metal implants. The goal is to develop a mechanically stable layer by layer deposition of polymer reinforced with nanocomposites on biodegradable Magnesium alloy. We hypothesize reinforcing nanocomposites into polymer increases the adhesion, entanglement of polymer networks thereby increasing the uniform deposition over the surface. The polymer/nanocomposite deposition will be analyzed using microscopic techniques, and elemental analytical measurements. Furthermore, the adhesion and mechanical stability of polymer coating to be checked using multiple wears off and adhesion testing techniques. The biocompatibility of the developed layer by layer deposition will be evaluated by culturing osteoblasts over the implant surface and checked for viability, proliferation and migration by fluorescence microscopy. Patient data will be obtained from CT images are used to construct printable CAD files using ANSYS and simulated for checking compression and load-bearing properties. Finally, to validate the findings, 3D printed metal implants are coated with polymer reinforced with nanocomposites implanted in vivo and examined for tissue integration and bone growth.