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 COATINGS FOR BIOMEDICAL IMPLANTS
Project leader: Prof Henk J. Busscher, PhD
University Medical Center Groningen / University of Groningen
Budget: € 8.000.000
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Ineffective antibiotics
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| It is inevitable: sooner or later, parts of the human body need to be replaced. Body parts naturally undergo wear and tear as people live longer. Sometimes action needs to be taken, for example, because damage occurs after an accident or due to disease. Biomaterials are increasingly used to replace native tissue and replicate their mechanical properties: a hip implant must be strong enough to bear our weight. Unfortunately, much still needs to be done, particularly to improve the surface of prostheses or implants. Bacteria seem to be highly attracted to these surfaces and antibiotics are often ineffective because the bacteria protect themselves with a special layer. For the patient, treating such an infected implant is a long, painful and expensive process that does not always yield good results. |
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© BMM / Rogier Trompert Medical Art
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Away with the bacteria
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| In this research project, we are working on modifying the surface of biomaterials to reduce their attractiveness to bacteria. Since it is impossible to completely eradicate this attraction, the surfaces will also be made bactericidal. Surfaces will also be developed that will produce a so-called antimicrobial effect on command, for example, in the event of impending infection. The participating companies in this project are experts in the development of these special surfaces while the academic institutions involved will primarily focus on the further improvement of the antimicrobial coatings itself. They will also test the new coatings in the laboratory using various prototypes. |
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Partners
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The following companies and institutes work together to make a success of NANTICO:
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Publications
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- Li J, Busscher HJ, van der Mei HC, Norde W, Krom BP, Sjollema J. Analysis of the contribution of sedimentation to bacterial mass transport in a parallel plate flow chamber: part II: use of fluorescence imaging. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2011 Oct 15;87(2):427-32. Abstract
- Sjollema J, Rustema-Abbing M, van der Mei HC, Busscher HJ. Generalized relationship between numbers of bacteria and their viability in biofilms. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2011 Jul;77(14):5027-9. Full paper
- Zaat S, Broekhuizen C, Riool M. Host tissue as a niche for biomaterial-associated infection. Future Microbiol. 2010 Aug;5(8):1149-51. Full Paper
- Sjollema J, Sharma PK, Dijkstra RJ, van Dam GM, van der Mei HC, Engelsman AF, Busscher HJ. The potential for bio-optical imaging of biomaterial-associated infection in vivo. Biomaterials. 2010 Mar;31(8):1984-95. Review. Abstract
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Posters
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