Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOSK20240412010
- Term of Validity
- 16 April 2024 - 16 April 2025
- Company's Country
- Slovakia
- Type of partnership
- Investment agreementCommercial agreement with technical assistance
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
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An established Slovak scientific and research institute in cooperation with a well-known university has developed a novel metal composite material for biomedical implants. The composite material fabricated via powder metallurgy comprises bioinert titanium (Ti) matrix and biodegradable component, in particular magnesium (Mg). The material is suited for applications subjected to intense mechanical loading.
The preferred cooperation type are commercial agreement or investment agreement. - Full Description
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Ti and Ti alloys are widely applied in biomedicine and for manufacturing of biomedical implants. Ti is biocompatible, non-toxic to humans, inert metal, which is chemically resistant to corrosion in the human body, has high specific strength, is sufficiently ductile and has a low density. The disadvantage of Ti and Ti alloys is their high Young's modulus of elasticity which is several times higher than that of a human bone. For this difference, a phenomenon is known as stress shielding occurs. Because of the stress shielding phenomenon, the implant transfers significantly higher load compared to the bone, which may lead to atrophy or bone osteoporosis and loosening of the implant. For materials used for implants manufacturing an appropriate surface treatment is required too, providing good integration with the bone and other biological tissues to achieve a firm and lasting connection. Surface treatment of implants leads to a change of topography, morphology and chemical composition of surface and specific surface energy. The above-described disadvantages are substantially eliminated by the unique composite material for implants comprising biocompatible Ti or biocompatible Ti alloy and a biodegradable component (in particular Mg).
The composite material is manufactured using a cost-effective approach, with a sequence of powder metallurgy techniques utilized at low processing temperature. The biodegradable Mg component is after fabrication homogenously dispersed throughout the material’s volume. The novel composite material addresses the shortcomings of existing dental implant concepts based on commercial purity (CP) Ti and Ti6Al4V alloy references i.e.: i) a reduction of the stress-shielding phenomenon, given by a mismatch between Young's moduli (E) of a jawbone and material of implant; and ii) an insufficient bioactivity. Permanent Ti component provides the mechanical properties, required for a function of the implant during a service. Biodegradable Mg component reduces E of the composite material. Moreover, Mg gradually dilutes at controlled rate from implant`s surface in a contact with a life tissue after implantation. As a result, pores form at prior Mg sites, composite`s E further decreases, the stress-shielding phenomenon reduces, osseointegration process at implant`s interface is promoted and bonding strength increases, eventually. At the same time, owing to unique microstructure of Ti matrix, the composite material shows good mechanical strength and fatigue endurance comparable to CP Ti.
The institution is looking for a partner to cooperate with via commercial agreement or investment agreement. - Advantages and Innovations
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• an ideal metal material for manufacturing biomedical implants, which are expectedly subjected to and intense mechanical and fatigue loading, with improved biocompatibility, surface bioactivity, osseointegration potential and which reduces the stress-shielding phenomenon,
• a cost effective and productive fabrication of a raw composite material,
• possibility to manufacture implants of complex shapes by machining from a raw composite material - Stage of Development
- Available for demonstration
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureGoal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
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The composite material can be industrially and repeatedly fabricated and used, particularly for fabrication of dental implants with excellent biocompatibility and mechanical compatibility with a living tissue, suited for application under intense cyclic mechanical loading. The composite material is manufactured using a cost effective approach, with a sequence of powder metallurgy techniques utilized a low processing temperature.
A mechanical performance and in-vitro corrosion behavior of the composite material was complexly assessed. Moreover, the response of a bone tissue to the material was preliminary assessed by implantation assays using large animal models. For the time being, the performance of cylindrical dental implant of particular design, which was CNC machined from optimized composite material, is complexly evaluated according to the standard for endosseous dental implants.
The institution is looking for a partner to cooperate with via commercial agreement (an industrial partner for licensing of this technology is sought) or investment agreement (a partner to sell this technology to is sought). - Type and Size of Partner
- SME 50 - 249Big company
- Type of partnership
- Investment agreementCommercial agreement with technical assistance
Call details
- Coordinator required
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Yes
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 02007020 - Biobased materials06001024 - Medical Biomaterials06006010 - Bio- Composites
- Market keywords
- 08001004 - Fibre-reinforced (plastic) composites
- Targeted countries
- All countries