Doktorand/Utbildningsplats

Doktorand/Utbildningsplats
med placering vid Sahlgrenska akademin, institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper

Sahlgrenska akademin utlyser doktorandplats med placering vid institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper.

Doktorandplatsen avser två års utbildningsbidrag och två års doktorandanställning, alternativt fyra års doktorandanställning, och beräknas leda fram till doktorsexamen.

För mer information och ansökningsblankett se:
http://www.sahlgrenska.gu.se/doktorandportalen/Doktor_Fran_start_till_mal/doktorandplatser

Mesoporous materials as time- and functionally activated biomaterials

Doctoral student position
The Institute of Clinical Sciences announces a doctoral student position in the field of nanomaterials and medical implants.The student will be involved in a twinning doctoral student project and will run the project in close collaboration with a doctoral student at Chalmers Technical University.
Description of the research project
Background
The use of foreign materials, i.e.implants, for replacement of injured or lost body parts has rapidly increased throughout the world and many new products are continuously introduced into the clinic.Osseointegration (bone integration) meant a breakthrough in dental and othopaedic implant treatments, and titanium, which is one of the most frequently used implant material, has been used successfully during the latest 50 years.However, approximately ten percent of all controlled and placed oral implants will be lost within a period of ten years from surgery.The highest failure rates with metal implants in general are related to patients with small bone volume due to severe bone resorption, or biomaterial related infections.Hence, improved novel materials that can improve the clinical results are needed.
Research project
In this project new nano-structured titania with a mesoporous arrangement will be synthesized by molecular self-assembly processes.We aim to create implant surfaces with the ability to deliver "bioactive molecules" locally in the body.The principle is that the formed mesoporous titania will be loaded with a desired "active molecule", and 'locked in' within the structure by applying a cap consisting of a bioresorbable material on top, such as certain polymers or amorphous oxides.The capping will function as a controlled release valve that hinders premature release of the molecules.By use of specific bioactive molecules and by control of their release rate, we aim e.g.to accelerate bone growth at the early phase of implantation, in a longer-term control bone resorption, and suppress biomaterial related infections.The project at Chalmers Technical University include material synthesis, characterization using a variety techniques, especially advanced electron microscopy, determination of drug release rate, and biological evaluations.The biologically related experiments at the Institute of Clinical Sciences will be of two categories; (i) determination of drug release rate, in vitro fibroblast, osteoblast, monocyte, macrophage and MSC culturing, and evaluation on differently prepared mesoporous surfaces, (ii) in vivo bone and soft tissue experiments and evaluation.The Institute of Clinical Sciences and Chalmers projects partly overlap and run in parallel.
Desired background
It is desirable that the candidate has basic training equivalent to a degree in biotechnology, cell biology, molecular biology or medicine.Experience in animal experimental work is valuable.