Abstract:

The scope of the BioART project is to demonstrate the feasibility and applicability of a novel technological chain in laboratory relevant conditions (TRL4), aiming to obtain innovative biomaterials for implants used in total arthroplasty of hip, knee and shoulder, by developing at lab scale the Synthesis and Thermo-Mechanical Processing technology for a new alloy and its Surface Functionalization by deposition of two different type of coatings using Physical Vacuum Deposition techniques. The goal is to produce functionalized materials using the already acquired knowledge about the best suitable chemistry and surface topography of the biocompatible materials.

Considering the current state-of-the-art and the previous experience of the two teams (TRL3), we propose the development of a complete set of biomaterials for hip/ knee/ shoulder total arthroplasty, addressing the following un-desired issues:

• stress-shielding at the implantation site which increases risk of bone-fracture;

• excessive wear of the moving parts of the joints, or even brittle failures associated if oxide materials are used, which limits femoral head dimensions and leads to metallosis and inflamation by debris release;

• metallosis, osteolysis and poor osseoconductive properties of the metalic stem parts introduced in the bone in cementless total arthroplasty intervention.

The project objective is to demonstrate the feasibility at lab scale of the innovative technologies consisting of :

•a new Ti bioalloy with superior mechanical properties (low elastic modulus, high wear and corrosion resistance, tensile strength and hardness), coated with •hard yet tough biocompatible multielement carbonitride coatings for the mobile parts of the joints (low friction, wear, corrosion rate), and •doped hydroxyapatite for advanced osseointegration of the stem metallic parts inserted in the bone during the cementless total arthroplasty surgery.