Executive Summary : | Bone fractures are caused by accidents, aging, and stress on bone, which are typically treated with internal fixation of bone plates. These plates are typically made of stainless steel, titanium alloys, Co-Cr alloys, and NiTi alloys. However, these alloys have drawbacks such as stress shielding, release of toxic ions, removal by operation, magnetic interference during MRI, excessive wear, and corrosion in the biological environment. Absorbable polymer (PLA) implants, which have an elastic modulus similar to human bones, can be enhanced by additive reinforcement and coatings. Coatings like Hydroxyapatite HA, gelatin, polydopamine, copper, titanium, and Halloysite Nanotubes HNT can improve wear resistance, surface texture, corrosion resistance, surface hardness, water contact angle, and thermal insulation. Artificial Intelligence algorithms can help identify hidden relationships between input parameters and output variables, optimizing the design parameters for better results. The proposed biocompatible coated PLA bone plates could eliminate the need for second surgery for implant removal and offer an alternative to metallic bone plates due to enhanced mechanical and biological properties. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Deepa Mudgal, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, Punjab (147004), Dr. Jaskaran Singh, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, Punjab (147004) |