Final Report Summary - BIOTINET (Academic-Industrial Initial Training Network on Innovative Biocompatible Titanium-base Structures for Orthopaedics)
Titanium (Ti) and its alloys constitute the most favoured non-degradable metallic implant materials in the field of trauma and orthopaedic surgery. In comparison with other implant materials (e.g. stainless steels, Co-Cr alloys), titanium is characterized by a high biocompatibility and corrosion resistance combined with suitable mechanical properties. But despite the high success rates of Ti-based materials, there still are serious problems of safety and long-term durability in the human body. One of the major problems is the stiffness mismatch between bone and implant corresponding to large differences in Young’s modulus (E) values. Those mismatches cause “stress-shielding” effects with consequences of tissue loss and implant fail. The implanted material must be strong enough and durable to withstand the physiological loads in long-term. A suitable balance between strength and stiffness has to be found to best match the behaviour of bone and to mechanically stimulate bone tissue growth. Another notable problem is the release of toxic metallic ions and/or particles through corrosion and wear processes that lead to inflammatory cascades which reduce biocompatibility. These two critical functions of mechanical matching and biological compatibility must therefore be addressed if the lifetime of the bone implant is to be increased. Another important aspect for implant materials is the establishment of a suitable surface state in terms of a tailored surface topography and chemistry which stimulates bone cell growth and enables an optimum osseointegration. To meet all these requirements new alloy developments are needed.
BioTiNet is a Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN; G.A. no. 264635) aiming to improve the overall efficiency of metallic implants for orthopaedic use. BioTiNet is a 4-year project (Jan. 2011 – Dec. 2014) funded by the European Commission and brings together 12 leading research institutions from 10 European countries: IFW Dresden (Germany), GrenobleINP (France), KUL (Belgium), UniVie (Austria), UCAM (UK), WUT (Poland), UOI (Greece), UOXF.DJ (UK), IJS (Slovenia), UAB (Spain), PMT (Switzerland) and Helipro (Slovenia).
BioTiNet ITN provides research and training opportunities for young researchers in the field of biomedical materials, with special emphasis on the development of advanced low-rigidity Titanium -based materials with improved biocompatibility and osseointegration. The areas of activity span across innovative materials design, synthesis and processing, modern surface modification techniques, testing and simulating of the macroscopic biomechanical response and the analysis of biological performance of novel Ti-based materials.
The research programme of BioTiNet is split in 4 research work packages (WP) containing 18 individual research projects. One separate work-package (WP5) is allocated to the project management and another one (WP6) to training (local & Network-wide).
During the project life (2011-2014), the BioTiNet Network has recruited 18 young scientists / Marie Curie fellows: 12 ESRs (engaged in PhD programs) and 6 ER (post-doctoral fellows). They worked in the following research areas: Structural design & Innovative processing, Biomechanical behavior, Interface processes and Biocompatibility.
Examples of notable achievements of BioTiNet fellows are:
- establishing the processing conditions for novel beta-Ti alloys with non-toxic additions; obtaining and caracterisation of low-stiffness Ti-Nb-based alloys
- ab initio and atomistic computer simulations into beta-type Ti-based alloys; adaptation of the Wien2k code and computations of: Ti and Ti-Nb alloys in various structures-evaluation of basic elastic quantities, i.e. elastic constants, bulk moduli, etc. and physical insight via the analysis of the electronic structures of these alloys
- nano-scaled structured beta-type Ti-based materials by severe plastic deformation (SPD) methods; analyses of SPD induced defects, texture measurements and fatigue resistance.
- development of a composite-type constitutive model for simulating the stress-strain characteristics and the nanostructure evolution during SPD processing of Ti-based materials
- directory of customised unit cell designs for the manufacturing of open porous Ti structures by laser-assisted methods (SLS/SLM)
- functionality of surface modified open porous beta-Ti structures by SLS/SLM as supportive carrier for cell-material driven bone regeneration
- describing the differences in the response of cells to the materials and relating this to the surface chemistry and topography
- generation of modified CNTs on beta-type Ti-based alloys
- synthesis, mechanical behavior, formability and deformation mechanisms of glassy Ti-based alloys
- production and characterisation of potentially bioactive coatings using four different routes on the ns and glassy Ti-based structures
- specifications of the nanostructured bioactive coatings produced by one-step hydrothermal treatment of Ti alloys
- mechanisms by which shot peening influence the deformation characteristics and structure of novel nano-structured and glassy Ti alloys
- specifications of the closed design and characterization loop for the optimization of open porous beta-Ti structures by SLS/SLM, in comparison to Ti6Al4V and degradable polymer open porous structures
- electrochemical surface modifications and consequences for corrosion stability and cell reactivity
- the extraction tests and corrosion behaviour in simulated body fluids; classification of the various samples to “good practice” of implant materials.
The fellows’ research activity was complemented by a series of Network-wide Training Courses / Meetings which covered the various scientific areas of the project. During the eight BioTiNet Meetings organized in different European countries (Germany, Austria, Spain, UK, Slovenia, Belgium, Greece, Switzerland) the young scientists had the chance to show their own research results in oral presentations and poster sessions which could be fruitfully discussed with respect to the scientific content and presentation techniques afterwards. All training courses have been published and advertised on the BioTiNet website and opened to external participants. The Network-wide and local research training activities, training in complementary skills dedicated to biomaterials field (entrepreneurship, ethics, project management etc.) and the cooperation with industrial partners guarantee the complete training in this scientific field of the young researchers, thus allowing them to become European professionals with excellent career perspectives.
Dissemination of BioTiNet fellows’ research is highlighted on the project website. This has resulted in 37 published papers , about 70 presentations at international conferences and four prizes awarded for fellows’ presentation / poster at international scientific conferences.
BioTiNet project website: www.biotinet.eu
The Network was coordinated by Prof. Juergen Eckert and Prof. Mariana Calin from the IFW Dresden, Germany.
BioTiNet is a Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN; G.A. no. 264635) aiming to improve the overall efficiency of metallic implants for orthopaedic use. BioTiNet is a 4-year project (Jan. 2011 – Dec. 2014) funded by the European Commission and brings together 12 leading research institutions from 10 European countries: IFW Dresden (Germany), GrenobleINP (France), KUL (Belgium), UniVie (Austria), UCAM (UK), WUT (Poland), UOI (Greece), UOXF.DJ (UK), IJS (Slovenia), UAB (Spain), PMT (Switzerland) and Helipro (Slovenia).
BioTiNet ITN provides research and training opportunities for young researchers in the field of biomedical materials, with special emphasis on the development of advanced low-rigidity Titanium -based materials with improved biocompatibility and osseointegration. The areas of activity span across innovative materials design, synthesis and processing, modern surface modification techniques, testing and simulating of the macroscopic biomechanical response and the analysis of biological performance of novel Ti-based materials.
The research programme of BioTiNet is split in 4 research work packages (WP) containing 18 individual research projects. One separate work-package (WP5) is allocated to the project management and another one (WP6) to training (local & Network-wide).
During the project life (2011-2014), the BioTiNet Network has recruited 18 young scientists / Marie Curie fellows: 12 ESRs (engaged in PhD programs) and 6 ER (post-doctoral fellows). They worked in the following research areas: Structural design & Innovative processing, Biomechanical behavior, Interface processes and Biocompatibility.
Examples of notable achievements of BioTiNet fellows are:
- establishing the processing conditions for novel beta-Ti alloys with non-toxic additions; obtaining and caracterisation of low-stiffness Ti-Nb-based alloys
- ab initio and atomistic computer simulations into beta-type Ti-based alloys; adaptation of the Wien2k code and computations of: Ti and Ti-Nb alloys in various structures-evaluation of basic elastic quantities, i.e. elastic constants, bulk moduli, etc. and physical insight via the analysis of the electronic structures of these alloys
- nano-scaled structured beta-type Ti-based materials by severe plastic deformation (SPD) methods; analyses of SPD induced defects, texture measurements and fatigue resistance.
- development of a composite-type constitutive model for simulating the stress-strain characteristics and the nanostructure evolution during SPD processing of Ti-based materials
- directory of customised unit cell designs for the manufacturing of open porous Ti structures by laser-assisted methods (SLS/SLM)
- functionality of surface modified open porous beta-Ti structures by SLS/SLM as supportive carrier for cell-material driven bone regeneration
- describing the differences in the response of cells to the materials and relating this to the surface chemistry and topography
- generation of modified CNTs on beta-type Ti-based alloys
- synthesis, mechanical behavior, formability and deformation mechanisms of glassy Ti-based alloys
- production and characterisation of potentially bioactive coatings using four different routes on the ns and glassy Ti-based structures
- specifications of the nanostructured bioactive coatings produced by one-step hydrothermal treatment of Ti alloys
- mechanisms by which shot peening influence the deformation characteristics and structure of novel nano-structured and glassy Ti alloys
- specifications of the closed design and characterization loop for the optimization of open porous beta-Ti structures by SLS/SLM, in comparison to Ti6Al4V and degradable polymer open porous structures
- electrochemical surface modifications and consequences for corrosion stability and cell reactivity
- the extraction tests and corrosion behaviour in simulated body fluids; classification of the various samples to “good practice” of implant materials.
The fellows’ research activity was complemented by a series of Network-wide Training Courses / Meetings which covered the various scientific areas of the project. During the eight BioTiNet Meetings organized in different European countries (Germany, Austria, Spain, UK, Slovenia, Belgium, Greece, Switzerland) the young scientists had the chance to show their own research results in oral presentations and poster sessions which could be fruitfully discussed with respect to the scientific content and presentation techniques afterwards. All training courses have been published and advertised on the BioTiNet website and opened to external participants. The Network-wide and local research training activities, training in complementary skills dedicated to biomaterials field (entrepreneurship, ethics, project management etc.) and the cooperation with industrial partners guarantee the complete training in this scientific field of the young researchers, thus allowing them to become European professionals with excellent career perspectives.
Dissemination of BioTiNet fellows’ research is highlighted on the project website. This has resulted in 37 published papers , about 70 presentations at international conferences and four prizes awarded for fellows’ presentation / poster at international scientific conferences.
BioTiNet project website: www.biotinet.eu
The Network was coordinated by Prof. Juergen Eckert and Prof. Mariana Calin from the IFW Dresden, Germany.