A Brief introduction of the Speaker
Professor Su Bo is the head of the Bioengineering Materials Research Group at the Centre for Applied Clinical and Materials Science, Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, UK. His primary research focuses include micro- and nano-fabrication of dental materials, bio-inspired composite materials for dentistry, and implant materials for dental and orthopedic applications. He has published over a hundred papers in top-tier international journals such as Biomaterials and Dental Materials, holds two international patents, and has led more than ten research projects. Currently, his research areas concentrate on material manufacturing processes and surface engineering, biomaterials and tissue engineering materials, and nano-fabrication technologies. His main research directions include: biomaterials (including titanium, ceramics, and polymers) and their interactions with stem cells and microorganisms at the micro-nano surface level; bio-inspired implant materials and tissue engineering materials; bio-inspired dental and orthopedic replacement materials; functional materials (solar window materials; piezoelectric, ferroelectric ceramics, and their functional composites and coatings for high-resolution medical imaging and tunable microwave devices in communication); and biomaterials (bio-intelligent surface materials and bio-inspired materials).
Abstract
Teeth and bones are ceramic composites with exquistely hierarchical structures at multi-length scales and optimal mechanical/'biological properties. From the viewpoint of materials engineering, it is desirable to emulate their complex microstructure and properties from a top-down approach. Inspired by the unique microstructure and properties of nacre, we use a range of fabrication techniques to produce nacre-like ceramic composites with a simple 'brick and mortar’structure from ceramic powders and flakes with different shapes and compositions. Strong and tough ceramic composites with biocompatibility or bioactivity have been produced using bi-directional freeze casting and self-assembly. Examples of some of the developed nacre-like ceramic composites will be given and their potential applications in dentistry and orthopaedics will be discussed
Implant-associated infections pose a significant challenge in modern medicine. With the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AlR), new antimicrobial strategies independent of antimicrobials are attracting increasing interests in both fundamental and translational research. In this talk, new developments of facileand up-scalable fabrication technique based on a low-temperature alkaline etching followed by therma annealing will be presented to produce 1D nano spike and 2D nano flake surfaces on both 2D flat and 3Dprinted pure titanium and titanium alloy substrates. The possible formation mechanisms of nano structures are discussed. The antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are characterised using bacterial metabolic and LIVE/DEAD assays. The results demonstrate the potential of 3D printed titanium implants with nanostructured bactericidal surfaces to combat implant associated infections, Finally, functionalisation of nanostructures with antimicrobial molecules such asenzymes and cell-binding molecules such as fibronectin demonstrates the synergy to enhance antimicrobia performance while promoting tissue integration with Ti implants.
