Filip Kuśmierczyk

Visiting resercher (AGH University, Kraków, Poland

Functionalization of the surface of metallic biomaterials by electrophoretic deposition of nanocomposite polyetheretherketone based coatings and their thermal sulfonation

 

Supervisor in Poland: Ph. D., D.Sc. Eng. Tomasz Moskalewicz, associate professor (AGH)

Supervisor in Erlangen: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dr. h.c. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Zirconium alloys are attractive for bone implants due to their favorable properties. Although they exhibit excellent biocompatibility, they have poor osteoconductivity and tend to easily form a biofilm on the surface. Therefore bioactive and antibacterial coatings are often needed. During our studies sulfonated polyetheretherketone (S-PEEK)-based coatings incorporating antibacterial ZnS and Cu as well as HA nanoparticles were developed on the Zr-2.5Nb zirconium alloy substrates by EPD and post heat treatment. The coatings are characterized by investigating their microstructure, adhesion to the substrate, surface topography and surface properties. The antibacterial studies are carried out in collaboration between the FAU Institute of Biomaterials and the AGH University of Science and Technology.