The development of osteochondral biomaterials typically relies on simplified biomechanical assays that poorly reproduce the complex loading environment experienced by implants within the human body. Materials that perform successfully under conventional laboratory testing may therefore behave differently when subjected to repeated, multi-directional physiological movement.
This PhD project will aim to continue our exploration of humanoid robotic systems as functional biomaterial screening platforms. In particular, the candidate will focus on developing an anatomically relevant knee bioreactor model. Subsequent steps will involve use using the system to reproduce controlled physiological loading cycles. Osteochondral biomaterials will then be assessed during various loading cycles to investigate deformation, contact mechanics, wear and mechanical stability, in the presence of cells and biological fluids.
Sensors, imaging and motion-tracking technologies will provide quantitative measurements of forces, displacement, strain and material degradation. Alongside these biomechanical measurements, multi-omics datasets will be collected to characterise cellular and molecular responses to different biomaterials and loading environments. Overall, these datasets will enable relationships to be established between conventional material properties and functional performance under joint-level movement.
This project will support the development of a functional screening framework in which new biomaterial formulations or architectures can be compared under standardised human-relevant mechanical conditions.
