FOR 5250:  Mechanism-based characterization and modeling of permanent and bioresorbable implants with tailored functionality based on innovative in vivo, in vitro and in silico methods

• Subject Area: Materials Science and Engineering ; Mechanical and Industrial Engineering ; Medicine
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 449916462

Aim of the research unit will be the development and validation of an integrated solution for the manufacturing, characterization and simulation-based design of additively manufactured implants in maxillofacial surgery, taking into account physiological conditions of the individual bone situation. Therefore, a holistic qualification approach, as well as an interdisciplinary consideration of materials engineering, medical engineering and numeric simulation, is required. Based on this, novel and mechanism-based testing methods (in vitro, in vivo), including multi-scale simulation and modeling methods (in silico), are implemented by the interdisciplinary consortium in order to describe the mechanical, biological and corrosive processes and mechanisms as well as their interactions. Due to the present diversity and complexity of the research topic, interdisciplinary processing by young scientists, supervised by experienced researchers, is mandatory. The complexity of the pursued scientific issues will be increased stepwise. Within the first funding period (FP-1: 1st to 4th year) the mechanical-biological behavior of permanent implants made of titanium was characterized. Supplementary, the effect of corrosion mechanisms on the mechanical-biological behavior of bioresorbable implants made of magnesium will be faced in the second funding period (FP-2: 5th to 8th year). In summary, the following overall objectives can be defined: 1) Patient-specific implant design by considering specific bone structures and possible bone defects (e.g. prevention of bone augmentation) 2) Minimization of stress-shielding within implant-bone interface through local adjustment of stiffness by using lattice structures for a successful tissue integration 3) Characterization of the influence of lattice structuring on quantities such as microstructure, defect formation and topography, and the correlation with the corresponding property profile 4) Modification of surface morphology and properties through surface treatment (e.g. sandblasting) and coating (e.g. PEM coatings) in order to stimulate tissue integration 5) Time- and resource-efficient simulation and modeling of the mechanical, biological and corrosive property profile via multi-scale approaches by linking multiple levels of scalability with the aid of artificial neuronal networks 6) Development of a time- and resource-efficient experimental and simulation-based characterization methodology to increase the quality, consequently also the long-term stability and to accelerate the development and qualification period for future implants.

• DFG Programme: Research Units

Projects

• Coordination Funds (Applicant Walther, Frank )
• Development and characterisation of additively manufactured patient-specific dental implants (Applicants Greuling, Andreas ;  Stiesch, Meike )
• Development of new functionalized polymer multilayer coating systems and adaptation to additively manufactured degradable implants with complex inner and outer contours (Applicants Andreeva, Tonya ;  Krastev, Rumen )
• In-silico design of implants based on a multi-scale approach (Applicant Junker, Philipp )
• In vitro cytocompatibility and in vivo small animal studies for the translational mechanistic-biological-medical assessment of additively manufactured bioresorbable magnesium implants (Applicants Barbeck, Mike ;  Jung, Ole )
• Investigation, development and correlation of suitable ex-vivo and in-vivo models in the context of the biocompatibility of additive-manufactured permanent and resorbable materials in large animals (Applicant Smeets, Ralf )
• Mechanism-based characterization of the fatigue and corrosion fatigue properties of addtively manufactured TPMS lattice structures under physiological conditions (Applicant Walther, Frank )
• Sensor-based process development for laser-additive manufacturing of implants with complex outer geometries and inner structures (Applicant Kaierle, Stefan )

• Spokesperson: Professor Dr.-Ing. Frank Walther