Artificial implants for joint replacement may be a thing of the past

Murdoch University’s Nanotechnology group is working on creating a substitute similar to bone, which could make artificial implants a thing of the past.

One of the risks associated with joint replacement surgery is the possibility of infection around implanted joints, and the need to remove the implant if traditional methods such as antibiotic treatment are unsuccessful.

Dr Gerard Eddy Poinern, Head of Murdoch University’s Applied Nanotechnology Research Group (MANRG) said his team’s nanotechnology would replace the traditionally used titanium plate with a plate of nanohydroxyapatite that is more easily accepted by the body.

“In the case of nanohydroxyapatite, you can dose it with antibiotics so when the bacteria comes in, it releases antibiotics and there is a stronger chance of the implant being accepted by the body,” Dr Poinern said.

As Hydroxyapatite is the main component of inorganic material found in bone, Dr Poinern said his team’s new recipe of nanohydroxyapatite would have an easier biocompatibility and bioactivity, allowing the body to repair itself much faster.

“When it’s put into the body, the body recognises it and will try to grow into it, accepting it quite well compared to other implants,” Dr Poinern said.

“The beauty about this is because it’s in nanoform, like a powder, you can then shape it into screws, plates or any form you require.”

Mr Ravi Brundavanam, who is supervised by Dr Poinern and Dr Zhong Tao Jiang at the MANRG, played a major role in pioneering the new chemical recipe to make nanohydroxapatite, as part of his honours project.

“The point for us was to look at whether we could make the nanobone in a different way, so we came up with a new recipe for making it,” Dr Poinern said.

“Now that we have a prototype, we will look at the properties of this nanohydroxyapatite compared to the micron size hydroxyapatite.”

Dr Poinern said further research would map out the nanohydroxyapatite’s strength and load-bearing properties, and hopefully link with a medical field collaborator to test its compatibility.

The MANRG team has several ongoing projects in the nanotechnology field, including the use of iron nano-particles to remove nitrates from fertilisers, nano-polymers to deliver anti-stroke drugs and nano-skin for scarless skin regeneration.