Design and development of polymer bio-nanocomposites for repair of orthopedic tissues
Abstract
Most recent biomaterial developments for orthopedic tissue repair are heavily focused on bioactive scaffolds. Such three-dimensional scaffolds have shown much promise; however, poor mechanical properties limit their applications for structural biomaterials. In order to improve the mechanical strength of polymeric materials with biomedical potential, inorganic nanoparticles can be added as fillers or cross-linkers to strengthen the polymer network. The structure and properties of the resulting nanocomposites strongly depend on their composition, polymer-nanoparticle interactions, and degree of cross-linking. Our current approach is predicated upon the development of nanocomposite biomaterials composed of silicate cross-linked polyethylene oxide (PEO). We have developed nanocomposites with properties ranging from viscoelastic soft and porous to hard and dense. The overall objective of this project is to determine feasibility for design and development of nanocomposite scaffolds that can be used for repairing bone, cartilage or bone-cartilage interface. By controlling and optimizing the chemical and physical properties of the nanocomposites, they will meet some of the stringent requirements of an extracellular matrix (ECM). Our rationale for this project is that its successful completion would provide us with novel biomaterials that could then be readily applied to the development of strategies for repairing orthopedic defects.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Schmidt, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Biomedical engineering|Materials science
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