Development of electrophoretic co-deposition of bioactive and antibacterial ceramics with biodegradable polymers to produce novel composite coatings for biomedical applications

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Aldo Boccaccini
• Subject Area: Biomaterials
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 426494347

The project aims to understand basic phenomena taking place during electrophoretic co-deposition of organic and inorganic particles with different size and morphology to obtain novel multicomponent biodegradable coatings with a balance of bioactive and antibacterial properties on titanium biomaterials. In particular, the mechanisms and kinetics of EPD will be investigated to fabricate homogeneous coatings with tailored microstructure. Characterisation of the coatings will be done to provide a fundamental understanding of the EPD parameters – micro/nanostructure – properties relationships. The proposed study complies the criteria of basic research and the main goal is to obtain a systematic, new knowledge about the influence of the EPD route on microstructure (phase composition) and surface topography of multicomponent biodegradable coatings as well as numerous properties, like coatings adhesion to the substrates, micro-mechanical and tribological properties, bioactivity and antibacterial properties as well as electrochemical corrosion resistance. This new knowledge will not only be useful for controlling the deposition process of coatings and to describe the interaction between the polymer and ceramic particles during co-deposition but also to obtain repetitive coatings with the intended microstructure and properties. These issues will provide a significant increase in the current state of knowledge in the field of materials science and biomedical engineering.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Poland
• Partner Organisation: Narodowe Centrum Nauki (NCN)
• Co-Investigators: Dr.-Ing. Rainer Detsch; Julia Will, Ph.D.
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Tomasz Moskalewicz