One of the common issues in orthopaedic surgery is bacterial infection of the surgical site after a surgical procedure. The American ‘National and State Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI)’ annual report from 2021, provided by the ’Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’ (CDC) shows a statistically significant increase for surgical site infections (11%) [1].
Bioactive glass-ceramics have been used in bone tissue engineering as bone fillers or scaffolds to repair bone defects. Due to their bioactive properties, they can form a chemical bond with bone tissue, promoting osteointegration [2]. 3D porous scaffolds made of bioactive glass-ceramics can be designed to release antibacterial agents directly at the surgical site. The aim of this project is to assess the biocompatibility, mechanical and antibacterial properties of glass-ceramic scaffolds with localised release of antibacterial agents.
The applicants should have a 1st class or 2:1 degree in Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related disciplines.
Newcastle University is committed to being a fully inclusive Global University which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, as well as being open to flexible working practices.
References:
- https://www.cdc.gov/hai/data/portal/index.html
- LC Gerhardt, AR Boccaccini, Bioactive Glass and Glass-Ceramic Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering, Materials 2010, 3(7), 3867–3910, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma3073867
Application enquiries:
Dr Oana Bretcanu, [Email Address Removed]
https://www.ncl.ac.uk/engineering/staff/profile/oanabretcanu.html
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