Focus
Thin film deposition
Nanocoatings
Hydroxyapatite
Bioceramics
Biomaterials
Sol-gel
Research leader/s
Dr Louise Evans
Prof. Besim Ben-Nissan
Biomaterials are materials engineered for implantation to restore a particular bodily function and improve patient health. Metal alloys including various stainless steels and titanium alloys are the materials of choice for orthopaedic implants and fracture stabilisation, however, metals are unable to bond with bone tissue (bioinert) and can corrode or wear over time. On the other hand, ceramic materials (including hydroxyapatite – the main mineral component of natural bone) are biocompatible but are brittle and have poor elasticity.
Ceramic coatings can be produced easily from solutions such that complex shapes can be coated economically. The main focus of our research group is to produce bioceramic nanocoatings on titanium alloys and 3D printed substrates with an emphasis on the sol-gel technique of thin film deposition. Hydroxyapatite nanocoatings have superior bioactivity and osseointegration which can be attributed to their large surface area and to their chemical similarity to the crystals in bone. Such materials can lengthen the lifetime of orthopeadic implants.