Bioactive Bioresorbable Composites for Load Bearing Guided Bone Regeneration

To maintain quality of life in an aging population there is a need for development of bioresorbable intervertebral spacers with adequate mechanical properties to sustain a stable correction of deformity, and an osteogenic chemistry/structure to facilitate timely bone fusion through the body of the spacer. Controlled bioresorbability is required to result in vertebra fused predominantly by heathy bone, the long term health of which is not jeopardised by complications associated with stress shielding or extrusion of a stiff metallic or bio-inert polymeric vertebral body, as can occur with current technologies.

The aim of this studentship is to formulate a series of bioresorbable composites based around novel PLA technology incorporating silicate-substitute hydroxyapatite particles for osteogenicity. Aside from the production and materials characterisation of composite samples this studentship would include characterisation of biodegradation profiles and assessment of the biological response to the composite materials and their degradation products in vitro, and mechanical evaluation of prototype vertebral structures. The ultimate goal being the development of a new line of osteoinductive bioresorbable fusion cages.

This Industry linked EPSRC-DTP CASE studentship will continue and expand the collaborative partnership between QM and Baxter Inc. which includes development of the Actifuse and Inductigraft families of bone graft substitute materials, featured on a Royal Mail Stamp in the 2019 British Engineering Series.