Antimicrobial and regenerative laser-textured bulk metallic glass biomaterials

In the UK in 2021, 181,823 hip and knee replacement surgeries were performed. Unfortunately, 11,083 (6%) of these surgeries were revisions due to failed implants. Aseptic loosening accounted for 4,239 of these revisions whilst infection accounted for 2,455 of these revisions. Taken together, loosening of implants due to poor osseointegration or infection accounts for over 60% of all hip and knee replacement failures. With hundreds of thousands of patients undergoing these procedures annually and the number expected to grow, there is a clear need for novel technologies that both encourage bone formation but also prevent infections.

The current metals used for implants are based on conventional crystalline alloys (e.g. stainless steel). Recent research advances have resulted in the development of metal alloys that have a disordered atomic structure, known as bulk metallic glasses (BMGs). BMGs exhibit high strength, polymer-like formability and enhanced fatigue/corrosion resistance, making them attractive for medical devices. When combined with emerging technologies, such as engineered nanotopographies, there is potential for a step-change in the field of medical devices. Little is known, however, how nanopatterning BMGs using laser-ablation, influence its structure, properties and biological responses. The aims of this studentship are to characterise how laser-ablation influences BMG structure and properties; and optimise surface topographies to prevent bacterial colonisation whilst encouraging bone regeneration.