The BioImplant project has successfully trained the next-generation of industry and academia leaders in the area of bioabsorbable medical device development and innovation. The activities of the project contributed to providing excellent career prospects to its ESRs through (i) advanced technical expertise (via ESR projects spanning the Supply Value Chain, high quality industry secondments and technical network-wide training events delivered), (ii) transferrable skills (through the transferable skills network-wide training events delivered and local training availed of), (iii) international industry experience of up to 36 months in duration and (iv) training in clinical engagement. Through its research programme, the project achieved enhanced mechanical properties of polymer-based bioabsorbables through novel processing technologies. A range of novel processing technologies were used to create new bioabsorbable materials and devices. These included extruded and stretch-blow moulded samples, wire-braided structures and warp knitted polymer components. The project achieved controlled degradation rates of magnesium-based bioabsorbable materials with the implementation of plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings that were used to introduce a ceramic layer on Mg specimens that resulted in a 3-fold enhancement of corrosion behaviour. Other polymer based coatings were also developed that provided additional enhancements to behaviour. The project developed novel metal- and ceramic-based polymer composite bioabsorbables. Several magnesium wire and PLA composite materials were developed that showed enhanced mechanical properties and superior corrosion behaviour compared to uncoated magnesium. The degradation and long-term mechanical performance of implanted bioabsorbable devices was predicted through the development and implantation of a novel surface-based corrosion model framework that fully captured the onset and evolution of pitting corrosion on magnesium samples, in addition to predicting the associated mechanical performance. Finally, a range of prototype devices were developed as part of the BioImplant programme. These included extruded PLLA tubes, nitinol stents, WE43 dog bone scaffolds, extruded and L-PBF bone plates, PLA-PLA and PLA-PCL composite plates, machine braided PLLA stents, PLA and P4HB warp knitted textile scaffolds and 3D printed flat dog bone scaffolds.
Project results were disseminated through 23 open access journal publications in high impact journals including Bioactive Materials, Frontiers in Medical Technology, Biomaterials Science and Polymers. There have been 46 national and international conference presentations, in addition to participation in public engagement events (e.g. Science Week in Madrid, Falling Walls Lab MSCA Competition, Soapbox Science and engagement with students). To maximise the impact of the BioImplant ITN, exploitation by industry, clinical and academic/researchers was considered using various channels which include making results available through open source platforms, continued internal use of results in the involved industry/academic institutions, use of results within education in the form of teaching tools and encorporation into graduate/postgraduate modules, and use of results for further research and funding applications.
