We are pleased to announce that Kinga Ślusarczyk, a fifth-year student of Chemical Technology at the Faculty of Chemistry of the Rzeszów University of Technology has been awarded for the second time a grant of 25,000 PLN funded by Fundacja Empiria i Wiedza to further develop her research project aimed at developing a bone implant based on polyetheretherketone (PEEK).
Second edition of the ‘Talenty Jutra’ grant programme is adressed to young scientists aged 19-25 with outstanding achievements in the fields of science and medicine, who are carrying their research work and projects in one of six disciplines:
- biotechnology,
- computer and engineering sciences,
- biological sciences and medicine,
- chemical and environmental sciences,
- physical sciences and astronomy,
- interdisciplinary projects connected with water, hydrogen and carbon (3W idea).
Out of almost 100 applications, the competition committee, composed of specialists in the above fields, selected 23 winners, who received the main prize of a grant worth PLN 25,000 to continue, develop or expand the area of their research projects.
One of the winners was Kinga Ślusarczyk, a member of the Chmielarz Research Group (https://pchmielarz.v.prz.edu.pl/en/group-members) and vice-secretary of the Student and Doctoral Scientific Society of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering IPSUM (https://ipsum.prz.edu.pl/). Her project entitled „Polymer nanocomposites with complex structures as scaffolds for bone growth and carriers in topical drug delivery” will be carried out under the supervision of Professor Paweł Chmielarz, Head of the Department of Physical Chemistry. The aim of the project is to verify the feasibility of using a previously developed material - polyetheretherketone modified with bottled polymer brushes - in a dual role - a solid implant to replace a damaged bone component, as well as a carrier for local drug delivery, which immediately after implantation will release the active substance into the surrounding tissue, reducing inflammation, as well as accelerating the process of bone cell growth.
Project description:
Polyetheretherketone, due to its mechanical properties, has already been tested several times for its use as a bone implant, but unfortunately unsuccesfully due to insufficient interaction with surrounding tissues, including lack of hydroxyapatite coating in contact with body fluids or inhibition of osteoblast growth. Previous studies have modified it with polymer brushes with a bottle-like structure, which significantly improved osteointegration. However, literature reports indicate that hydroxyapatite (HA) has properties that induce osteocyte differentiation by which the aim of the study will be to verify osteoblast proliferation on hybrid materials containing HA layers. An additional novel aspect of the presented project, which distinguishes it from previous work, is the concept of using poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) brushes attached to the PEEK surface with a bottle structure for local delivery of the drugs quercetin and lowastatin.
For more information about this programme, visit:
https://empiriaiwiedza.pl/konkursy/talenty-jutra
https://www.facebook.com/fundacjaempiriaiwiedza
Twitter - Chmielarz Research Group @Chmielarz_Group
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Kolo.Naukowe.IPSUM
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/crg_ipsum/
