Work packages

LU

This work package sets out the ‘ethics requirements’ that the project must comply with.

OSTEOPLANT

Preparation of ZrTiNb-based ingots doped with alloying elements will be performed in an electric arc furnace equipped with a water-cooling hearth and a non-expandable tungsten electrode by 6-fold remelting in pure argon with following homogenization at temperature of 1000 oC and pressure of 10-3 Pa during 2 hours. There, chemical analysis of the obtained materials will be undertaken. The Reggio and Riga team will be trained in metal alloying and chemical analysis.

Then, all necessary treatments will be carried out, e.g. drawing, cold rolling, annealing, etc., with the aim to prepare different shapes of specimens (plates, rods, wires and films) depending on the experimental methods used.

General (elastic modulus, ultimate stress and strain, yield stress) and specific (reversible deformation, hysteresis loop) mechanical properties of ZrTiNb-based alloys will be determined using the mechanical testing machine HOUNSFIELD H1KT with wide range of deformation rate and cyclic test capability. X-rays diffractometers will be used to study crystal structure and phase composition and crystal lattice parameters. Secondment visits, structured in 5 tasks will have a preparatory period before the visit and a reporting period after the visit. In total 21 secondment months (10 for experienced researchers; 11 for young researchers). Task leaders (Lead participants) of each Task are marked in a bold font. WP Leader is OPL team.

Besides joint research efforts, discussions and finalization of reporting documents, preparations of publications and conference thesis, lectures and scientific seminars are foreseen in the agenda of each task of this WP.

LU

HA, ZnO, TiO2, TiO2-HA and ZnO-HA nanocomposites will be deposited on the dental surface using sol gel methods by the Tartu and Riga teams. Concentration of the precursor and a thickness of the coatings will be varied from 100 nm to 2000 nm. Annealing of the samples will be perfomed in air atmosphere in the range of 200 to 500 °C. Prague and OPL teams will be trained in sol gel deposition.

3D scaffolds, based on 2D organic nanofibers will be deposited by the Prague team. The Sumy, Riga and Reggio teams will actively participate in deposition. Sol gel deposited HA, ZnO, TiO2, TiO2-HA and ZnO-HA nanocomposites will be treated by laser nanopatterning by the Reggio team. The Tartu, OPL and Prague teams will be trained on LIPSS baser laser nanopatterning. Structure characterization of the surface coatings will be studied by XRD, SEM, AFM, TEM and XPS/UPS methods. All partners will participate in structural characterization and analysis of the results. The stability and resistivity of the deposited surface coatings will be studied with SEM, AFM, TEM and XPS/UPS methods by Riga, Tartu, Sumy and Reggio teams. Additionally, non destructive methods, based on photoluminescence and diffuse reflectance will be used by Riga team.

Secondment visits, structured in 6 tasks will have a preparatory period before the visit and a reporting period after the visit. In total 49 secondment months (37 for experienced researchers; 12 for young researchers). Task leaders (Lead participants) of each Task are marked in a bold font. The WP is lead by the Riga team.

Besides joint research efforts, discussions and finalization of reporting documents, preparations of publications and conference thesis, lectures and scientific seminars are foreseen in the agenda of each task of this WP.

SSU

MG63 (osteosarcoma cells) and MLO-A5 (osteoblasts) will be seeded on implants with modified surface by the Sheffield team. Cell viability will be assessed at 3, 7 and 14 days after seeding using Live/Dead and MTT assays. Deposition of mineralized matrix and collagen synthesis at days 14 and 21 will be evaluated through Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) microscopy. The OPL and Prague teams will be trained in cell culture techniques by the Sheffield team.

The Riga team will evaluate modified abutment surfaces toxicity and biocompatibility on HDFa (human dermal fibroblast) and MSC cells. The Riga team will also assess MSCs proliferation and differentiation on different surfaces. They will also assess collagen synthesis of fibroblasts on various surface topography and chemistry. The effect of different coatings on Gramm-positive and Gramm-negative bacteria will be assessed at Sumy State

University. Bacteria attachment, biofilm formation and microorganisms growth will be evaluated using classical bacteriological methods. The Praha team will be trained in bacteriological techniques at SSU. Implants with appropriate mechanical properties and high biocompatibility will be used for in-vivo testing. Implants will be placed to the low jaw of a pig to test with standard mechanical loads. Early tissue response, osseointegration and antibacterial properties will be evaluated using histology, immunohistochemical, bacteriological methods, SEM.

Stress-shielding effect of peri-implant tissues will be assessed histologically and mechanical testing of bone tissue will be performed at Sheffield University. Similarly, the Sheffield team will perform mechanical loading of physiological relevance on cell-seeded implant in a BOSE Biodynamics testing device for in-vitro comparison. The Prague team will be trained in histology and immunohistochemical methods. All partners will participate in the analysis of the results.

Corrosion of implant surface will be studied at 1 and 6 months after implantation using SEM and AFM. Secondment visits, structured in 10 tasks will have a preparatory period before the visit and a reporting period after the visit. In total 35 secondment months (19 for experienced researchers; 16 for young researchers). Task leaders (Lead participants) of each Task are marked in a bold font. WP Leader is Sumy team. Besides joint research efforts, discussions and finalization of reporting documents, preparations of publications and conference thesis, lectures and scientific seminars are foreseen in the agenda of each task of this WP.

USFD

The project partners are experts in material science, surface treatment, nano-technologies, cell culture techniques and invivo modeling. Therefore, good training facilities will be offered to seconded researchers at the hosting organizations.

Based on the above mentioned expertise the project partners will provide training in the following disciplines: Riga team: sol-gel coating techniques, XRD, SEM, AFM, TEM characterization, cell culture techniques. Sumy team: animal modeling, histology, immunohistochemistry, SEM of biological objects, bacteriological methods, mechanical characterization – elastic modulus, ultimate stress and strain, yield stress, reversible deformation. Sheffield team: bone cell culture techniques, confocal microscopy, bone tissue biomechanics. Reggio team: Laser treatment techniques, LIPSS, surface characterization, XRD OPL team: material science, metal alloying. Prague team: electrospinning techniques, 3D scaffolding. Tartu team: Metal nanoparticle synthesis, XRD, TEM. Within this Work Package the lectures and scientific seminars will be organized by the project partners.

The proposed tasks will be performed for the transfer of knowledge, increase the scientific excellence of the participating early stage and experienced researchers and for the enhancement of intellectual “critical mass”. Secondment visits, structured in 16 tasks will have a preparatory period before the visit and a reporting period after the visit. In total 89 secondment months (35 for experienced researchers; 37 for young researchers; 17 for management staff). Task leaders (Lead participants) of each Task are marked in a bold font. WP Leader is the Sheffield team.

Besides joint research efforts, discussions and finalization of reporting documents, preparations of publications and conference thesis, lectures and scientific seminars are foreseen in the agenda of each task of this WP.

LU

Management of the project will involve activities, related to preparation of project documentation, collecting the travel documents, assuring the performed visit and periodic scientific and financial reports. The periodic meetings of the

Management Body will be focused on the project achievements and solving the problems, raised during the project implementation. The representatives of each project partner will participate in the Management Body meetings. Task leaders (Lead participants) of each Task are marked in a bold font. WP leader is Riga team.

The agenda of each meeting will be prepared in advance. The meeting will last for 1-2 days.

UNIMORE

The consortium has a well-planned strategy for dissemination of the results, targeted to scientific community (networking activities: conferences, summer schools, etc.) and wide public auditory (Internet dissemination channel, mass media, etc.). Project partners will represent the results, popularize the fields of material science, nano-technology, surface treatment, dentistry and medicine within society at national and international levels. A dialog with stakeholders and EU technological programs will be implemented during networking activities. All partners will participate. Task leaders (Lead participants) of each Task are marked in a bold font. WP leader is Reggio team.