Dear All,

You are cordially invited to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering seminar.

Metallic-based biomaterials: Some thought on clinically relevant research directions

Metallic-based materials are widely used in dental and orthopaedic implants. Among other
factors, lifetime of osseointegrated implants is primarily influenced by the capability of the
surface of the implant to induce osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) to adhere, proliferate and
mineralize as fast as possible to anchor the implant in place. In parallel, infection, due to the
colonization of the surface of the implant material by microorganisms, should be avoided.
Finally, degradation of the implant surface by tribocorrosion mechanisms (corrosion +
mechanical wear) results in the modification of the surface characteristics of the material, but,
at the same time, generates micro or nano-sized debris and/or metallic ions that may have a
deleterious effect on the biological functions locally and systemically.
This talk will discuss these different and complex demands, focusing on metallic-based
biomaterials for osseointegrated implants. Strategies followed in the last years to
functionalize the surface of the implants through the growth of oxide films with graded
properties for optimized biological performance, while minimizing degradation, will be
addressed. Finally, the toxicity of degradation products will be highlighted.

Speaker: Luis Augusto Rocha
Digital Transformation CoLAB

Date: Thursday, Oct 13, 2022

Time: 11:00

Place: Engineering Faculty D Block, Seminar room (1st Floor)

Best regards.

Luís Augusto Rocha is a Leading Researcher at DTx – Digital Transformation CoLAB, Campus de Azurém, Guimarães, Portugal. Formerly he was Associated Professor with Habilitation (Livre-Docente) at UNESP – Univ. Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Ciências de Bauru, Brazil (2013-2018) and Associated Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of University of Minho, in Portugal (1985-2013). He is the coordinator of the IBTN/Br, Brazilian Branch of the Institute of Biomaterials, Tribocorrosion and Nanomedicine, and co-founder of its European Branch.

He has a strong involvement in research on the biomaterials field, namely on the development of functionally graded materials (FGM), surface functionalization of metallic biomaterials and on the investigation of the degradation mechanisms of those materials, essentially from the tribocorrosion point-of-view, and its influence on biological systems. He published more than 100 papers in SCI Journals (h-index=39, according to Google Scholar). In 2021, he was ranked in the World´s Top 2% Scientists List, compiled by Stanford University (Materials).
He is a member of WP18 on Tribocorrosion (European Federation of Corrosion), LGM-AS – Int. Assoc. for Layered and Graded Materials (World Academy of Ceramics) and International Advisory Board on Functionally Graded Materials (FGM Forum, Japan).

At DTx he is the Director of the Human Factors technical-scientifical area, where he coordinates a multidisciplinary team, including Designers, Social Scientists, Economists, Psychologists etc. This team is building the DTx Living Lab focused on the involvement of humans in the process of co-creation of cyber-physical systems.