Mina Abdolmaleki 

PhD Student (Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín, Slovakia)

Development, characterization, and optimisation of organic-inorganic bioactive composite coating for biomedical application

 

Supervisor in Trenčín: Dr. Martin Michálek

Supervisor in Erlangen: Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

The main purpose of this project was to address critical issues associated with inert metallic implants, such as lack of bioactivity, stress shielding, and infections, by applying a bioactive coating using electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Borate bioactive glasses (BG), in particular 1393-B3 BG, have been recently used in biomedical applications due to their rapid apatite ability formation in the physiological body fluids. In addition, polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) with appropriate mechanical properties was incorporated alongside the BG to improve the adhesion and reduce stress shielding. The PEEK/BG coatings could offer a proper composite with a suitable Young’s modulus closer to that of bone, reducing stress shielding. Recently, the different coating systems such as silicate BGs/PEEK have been obtained by EPD [1]. In addition, surface functionalization of the coatings with biomolecules, as a second layer, is a method to enhance biological activity [2].

[1]    M. Atiq Ur Rehman, F.E. Bastan, B. Haider, A.R. Boccaccini, Electrophoretic deposition of PEEK/bioactive glass composite coatings for orthopedic implants: A design of experiments (DoE) study, Mater. Design 130 (2017) 223–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATDES.2017.05.045.

[2]    R. Tejido-Rastrilla, S. Ferraris, W.H. Goldmann, A. Grünewald, R. Detsch, G. Baldi, S. Spriano, A.R. Boccaccini, Studies on Cell Compatibility, Antibacterial Behavior, and Zeta Potential of Ag-Containing Polydopamine-Coated Bioactive Glass-Ceramic, Materials (Basel) 12 (2019). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12030500.