Orthopedic and Dental Implants
Orthopedic and Dental Implants
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Bone cells alter their cellular functions upon interacting with nanofeatured implant surfaces. To enhance integration of orthopedic implants with juxtaposed bone tissue, one of the main research thrusts of the Ercan Research Group is to fabricate nanofeatured surfaces on currently-used biomaterial surfaces. Through controlling surface topography, chemistry, wettability, crystallinity and other biomaterial related surface parameters, we are aiming to enhance osteointegration, and thus improve longevity of orthopedic and dental implants.
Bone cells alter their cellular functions upon interacting with nanofeatured implant surfaces. To enhance integration of orthopedic implants with juxtaposed bone tissue, one of the main research thrusts of the Ercan Research Group is to fabricate nanofeatured surfaces on currently-used biomaterial surfaces. Through controlling surface topography, chemistry, wettability, crystallinity and other biomaterial related surface parameters, we are aiming to enhance osteointegration, and thus improve longevity of orthopedic and dental implants.
Antibacterial Materials
Antibacterial Materials
Infections associated with medical devices are the leading cause of preventable deaths in hospitals. To fight against infections, antibiotics are the only tool in our arsenal. However, antibiotic treatment is ineffective against eradicating biofilms. Besides, the efficacy of antibiotics towards killing bacteria is decreasing based on the rise of multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains, i.e. Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Towards fighting with infection, Ercan Research Group is designing antibacterial biomaterials to prevent growth of both gram positive and negative bacteria. We are utilizing nanotechnology-based tools to prevent attachment of bacteria onto implant surfaces, while controlled release of antibacterial agents (i.e. silver) prevent formation of biofilms on biomaterials.
Infections associated with medical devices are the leading cause of preventable deaths in hospitals. To fight against infections, antibiotics are the only tool in our arsenal. However, antibiotic treatment is ineffective against eradicating biofilms. Besides, the efficacy of antibiotics towards killing bacteria is decreasing based on the rise of multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains, i.e. Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Towards fighting with infection, Ercan Research Group is designing antibacterial biomaterials to prevent growth of both gram positive and negative bacteria. We are utilizing nanotechnology-based tools to prevent attachment of bacteria onto implant surfaces, while controlled release of antibacterial agents (i.e. silver) prevent formation of biofilms on biomaterials.
Vascular Applications
Vascular Applications
Coronary artery disease is among the leading causes of death in the world. Accumulation of fat, cholesterol, calcium minerals and blood cells inside coronary arteries can lead to plaque formation (atherosclerosis), which interrupts blood flow to the cardiac muscle and gradually leads to heart attack. Although stent application is an effective treatment to re-establish blood flow, reoccurrence of similar symptoms, as well as blood clot formation on stent surfaces are fundamental problems. Towards integration of stents to vascular tissue, we are modifying stent surfaces in the nanoscale to enhance endothelial cell proliferation, while limiting formation of blood clots. Having this said, corrosion, metal ion release, mechanical properties and degradation characteristics of stents are also among the research interests of Ercan Research Group.
Coronary artery disease is among the leading causes of death in the world. Accumulation of fat, cholesterol, calcium minerals and blood cells inside coronary arteries can lead to plaque formation (atherosclerosis), which interrupts blood flow to the cardiac muscle and gradually leads to heart attack. Although stent application is an effective treatment to re-establish blood flow, reoccurrence of similar symptoms, as well as blood clot formation on stent surfaces are fundamental problems. Towards integration of stents to vascular tissue, we are modifying stent surfaces in the nanoscale to enhance endothelial cell proliferation, while limiting formation of blood clots. Having this said, corrosion, metal ion release, mechanical properties and degradation characteristics of stents are also among the research interests of Ercan Research Group.
Cardiac Tissue Engineering
Cardiac Tissue Engineering
Although coronary interventions improve the life expectancy of patients having coronary artery disease, the minimal intrinsic ability of heart muscle to regenerate itself poses a major obstacle where majority of these patients still progress to end-stage heart failure. To date, heart transplantation is the only remedy to fully restore cardiac functions. However, the need for heart transplant significantly exceeds number of available donors. Thus, therapies that can effectively regenerate damaged cardiac muscle is urgently needed. Towards this goal, a major research thrust of Ercan Research Group is to engineer cardiac patches that allow regeneration of damaged cardiac muscle. In our research group, we are engineering electrically conductive, biomimetic, composite-based biomaterials that can be injected into or incorporated onto damaged cardiac tissue to restore the functionality to heart muscle.
Although coronary interventions improve the life expectancy of patients having coronary artery disease, the minimal intrinsic ability of heart muscle to regenerate itself poses a major obstacle where majority of these patients still progress to end-stage heart failure. To date, heart transplantation is the only remedy to fully restore cardiac functions. However, the need for heart transplant significantly exceeds number of available donors. Thus, therapies that can effectively regenerate damaged cardiac muscle is urgently needed. Towards this goal, a major research thrust of Ercan Research Group is to engineer cardiac patches that allow regeneration of damaged cardiac muscle. In our research group, we are engineering electrically conductive, biomimetic, composite-based biomaterials that can be injected into or incorporated onto damaged cardiac tissue to restore the functionality to heart muscle.
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