SBIR Phase I: Mimicking Metatarsophalangeal Joints Using Tailored Ultra-Dissipative Liquid-Crystalline Elastomers to Treat Hallux Rigidus

SBIR 第一阶段：使用定制的超耗散液晶弹性体模仿跖趾关节治疗拇趾僵硬

• 批准号: 2014661
• 负责人: Amir Torbati
• 金额: $ 22.5万
• 依托单位: IMPRESSIO INC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-06-01 至 2022-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2014661&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Mimicking; Metatarsophalangeal; Joints

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to treat arthritis in joints. This project will advance the use of special materials for joint repair, which permit devices to mimic the naturally soft tissues of the body and provide anatomically correct support. These materials also offer the advantages of minimally invasive surgery, development of patient-specific devices. It will offer the ability to arthritis in joints in the foot, hand, knee (e.g. total knee replacement), spine (e.g. total disc replacement), and repair of any load-bearing orthopedic tissue, such as meniscus.The proposed project focuses on advancing the translation of Liquid-Crystalline Elastomers (LCE) as a cartilage replacement device for the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint to treat hallux rigidus. Hallux rigidus is a joint disorder at the base of the big toe. This project will be the first to investigate LCEs for orthopedic applications and develop an MTP joint repair using LCEs. LCEs have vastly superior energy dissipation properties relative to traditional elastomers, such as silicone or hydrogels. This project will demonstrate LCEs for treatment of degenerated joints by drawing from the disciplines of liquid-crystal elastomer science, viscoelasticity, and bioengineering. LCEs are known for behavior that is similar to biological tissues. This proposed project will accomplish: 1) synthesizing an LCE to mimic mechanical properties of natural joint to minimize wear rate under simulated physiological conditions; and 2) validation of biomechanical performance and biocompatibility of LCEs in comparison to the state of practice.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该小企业创新研究 (SBIR) 第一阶段项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是治疗关节关节炎。该项目将推进用于关节修复的特殊材料的使用，使设备能够模仿身体的自然软组织并提供解剖学上正确的支撑。这些材料还具有微创手术、开发患者专用设备的优势。它将提供治疗足、手、膝关节（例如全膝关节置换术）、脊柱（例如全椎间盘置换术）关节炎以及修复任何承重骨科组织（例如半月板）的能力。拟议项目的重点是推进液晶弹性体（LCE）作为跖趾（MTP）关节软骨替代装置的转化，以治疗拇趾僵直。拇趾僵直是大脚趾根部的关节疾病。该项目将是第一个研究 LCE 在骨科应用中的项目，并使用 LCE 开发 MTP 关节修复。相对于有机硅或水凝胶等传统弹性体，LCE 具有极其优越的能量耗散特性。该项目将借鉴液晶弹性体科学、粘弹性和生物工程等学科，展示用于治疗退化关节的 LCE。 LCE 因其与生物组织相似的行为而闻名。该项目将实现：1）合成 LCE 来模拟自然关节的机械性能，以最大限度地减少模拟生理条件下的磨损率； 2) 与实践状态相比，验证 LCE 的生物力学性能和生物相容性。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。