Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

With our aging population in North America it is becoming increasingly important to develop better, less expensive implants and devices. An understanding of the chemistry that takes place at the surface of a biomaterial is essential to improving medical implants. We can use this understanding to change the surface chemistry of the material to eliminate any adverse reactions that can result when a foreign substance is introduced into the human body. Currently, metallic implants such as stainless steel and titanium are used in orthopedics to fix broken bones or stabilize them after surgery. In many instances these implants serve no purpose after healing has occurred. In these cases a biodegradable implant that would provide the necessary stability in the initial stages of healing and would gradually dissolve and be replaced by bone would be advantageous. We are investigating a new class of biomaterials, magnesium alloys, as biodegradable orthopedic implant materials. Magnesium alloys have many advantages over traditional metallic biomaterials and they are a comparatively inexpensive material. Our research program focuses on understanding the behaviour of magnesium alloys in the human body and developing ways to change their surface chemistry to improve their biocompatibility and control their dissolution rates. This research program has the potential to make Canada a leader in the development of improved biomedical implants. This will lead to both economic growth for the country and improved healthcare for Canadians.