Award details

Biosynthesis of nanophase hydroxyapatite by a species of citrobacter

Reference	E11940
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Rachel Sammons
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Lynne Macaskie, Professor P Marquis
Institution	University of Birmingham
Department	Dentistry
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	293,997
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/10/1999
End date	01/06/2004
Duration	56 months

Abstract

A metal phosphate-accumulating Citrobacter produces a material that is chemically similar to hydroxyapatite (HA), which is currently used as a bone substitute material & a coating for prosthetic devices. Materials made from chemically-produced HA crystals have limited applications because of their low strength but nanophase crystalline HA, produced by Citrobacter, provides the potential to obtain high strength HA for load-bearing applications. The cell surface array of bacterial exopolymers can direct its nucleation & biofilm-growth on foam gives a scaffold with an event distribution of HA within pores, superior to chemically- sprayed (surface) HA. We will evaluate, drive & promote the biosynthesis of biomedically- compatible (biomimetic) HA. This, processed from native cells and from foam- immobilised biofilm, will be evaluated for osteoblast compatibility.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Engineering & Biological Systems (EBS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search