Ferguson Group / Laboratory for Orthopaedic TechnologyOpen OpportunitiesFollowing trauma or due to degeneration it can be necessary to replace one or more intervertebral discs with an implant, a so-called Total Disc Replacement (TDR). Such devices enable motion though surfaces articulating against each other. While this treatment is clinically successful, it is connected to considerable complication and reoperation rates. Therefore, we are optimizing the design of such an implant to address these issues.
While many different designs and design types have been proposed and are used in clinical practice, there is no consensus on what design or design type is the most beneficial. However, it is hypothesized, that replicating the situation that is present in healthy (asymptomatic) subjects as closely as possible, is optimal. Since the motions of the cervical spine are coupled (coupling of rotation and translation as well as multiple rotations) the optimal design of the articulating surfaces is not obvious. Therefore, this master’s thesis project aims at designing the implants articulating surfaces using parametric design optimization in LS-OPT based on finite element simulations. - Engineering and Technology
- Master Thesis
| This study focuses on osteoarthritis (OA), a prevalent musculoskeletal condition affecting millions of adults globally. OA, characterized as degenerative joint disease, arises from stress and abnormalities within various synovial joint tissues, leading to cartilage and bone breakdown, resulting in pain, stiffness, and functional impairment. Biomedical applications seek solutions, where solution electrospinning (SES) is employed to create nanofibrous scaffolds with tunable 3D structures. The project's goal is to achieve aligned electrospun fibers mimicking the parallel arrangement of collagen types II and IV in articular cartilage. Contrary to traditional methods, fiber alignment is pursued using isolation gaps on a flat collector rather than high rotational speeds. Optimal alignment sets the stage for melt-electrowriting (MEW), a captivating technique to deposit multiscale fibrous scaffolds atop the electrospun matrix, replicating the layered architecture of cartilage. MEW involves extruding a viscous polymer melt via a syringe under an electric field onto a mobile collector, enabling the construction of intricate micro-sized structures. This innovative approach holds promise for fabricating biomimetic materials for OA therapy and beyond. - Biomaterials, Biomechanical Engineering
- Internship, Master Thesis, Semester Project
| Osteoarthritis (OA), a prevalent musculoskeletal condition affecting over 32.5 million US adults, is characterized by the degeneration of synovial joints. This slow-progressing disorder results in pain, stiffness, and functional disability due to the breakdown of joint tissues. Electrospinning (SES) and Melt-Electrowriting (MEW) are established methods for crafting nanofibrous Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) constructs for articular cartilage regeneration. However, the hydrophobic nature of PCL hinders favorable cell interaction. This study explores the wet chemical method's potential to enhance PCL surface wettability through partial hydrolysis. By adjusting NaOH concentration and treatment time, we aim to investigate the impact on PCL scaffold morphology, hydrophilicity, and cell viability. The findings may contribute to improving the efficacy of electrospun and melt-electrowritten scaffolds for articular cartilage regeneration. - Biomaterials
- Internship, Master Thesis, Semester Project
| The current gold-standard for the assessment of knee OA is the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading system based on plain radiography. It is WHO standard since 1961 but it does not evaluate cartilage, only the whole joint aspect.
A potential biomarker of early OA is acoustic emissions (AE), particularly for the knee joint where poorly lubricated moving joint surfaces generate abnormal sounds.
Our preliminary data suggests that a combined approach of motion and AE analysis may enable a non-invasive early diagnosis of OA.
We are now running a large cohort study to further explore the potential of AE analysis to diagnose OA at earlier stages. We will develop a reference database in a subpopulation at risk of developing OA which will include AE/motion recordings with InModi and gold standard modalities such as radiographic (MRI / x-rays) and patient-reported outcomes for reference.
Furthermore, in patients who undergo total knee replacements, the tibia plateaus will be collected and microCT scanned to further characterize the possible anatomic features at the origin of acoustic emissions.
We have opportunities for internship and Master projects starting December 2023 until July 2024. - Biomechanics, Orthopaedics
- Internship, Master Thesis
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