Improving the durability of silk-based implants for medical use
Controlling Naturally-Derived Polymer Enzymatic Degradation: A Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition Approach
This study is exploring how to make special silk implants that can help with healing and delivering medicine, and they want to make sure these implants last just the right amount of time in your body without causing any issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California State University Fresno NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fresno, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10654781 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing biomaterial implants made from silk that can be used in various medical applications, such as drug delivery and wound healing. The goal is to control the degradation rates of these implants to ensure they last as long as needed without causing complications. By using a technique called plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, the researchers will modify the surface of the silk to influence how enzymes break it down in the body. This approach aims to create silk materials that can be tailored for specific medical needs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients requiring surgical implants, such as those undergoing joint replacements or other procedures that involve biomaterials.
Not a fit: Patients who do not require any form of surgical implants or biomaterials may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer and more effective biomaterial implants that improve patient outcomes in surgeries and treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using modified biomaterials for medical applications, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Fresno, United States
- California State University Fresno — Fresno, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hawker, Morgan J — California State University Fresno
- Study coordinator: Hawker, Morgan J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.