Doctoral Themes - Proposals

Engineering novel surfaces with biodegradable Zn-BioMOFs networks for targeted drug delivery (EngBioMOFs)

Supervisors

Marta M. Alves, martamalves@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Vânia André, vaniandre@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Registration Institution

Instituto Superior Técnico (Universidade de Lisboa)

Project description

The main goal of this PhD project is to developed novel Zn-BioMOFs (zinc–bio-inspired metal-organic frameworks) networks for drug release during this biomaterial degradation. The immobilization of these BioMOF structures with antimicrobial activity in Zn surface will allow to target local drug-delivery during bone healing or stent applications. 
The fabrication of BioMOFs will be developed towards mechanochemistry methodologies. This is a sustainable, fast and efficient pathway, that has proven to be an excellent alternative for the synthesis of MOFs. The surface functionalization of Zn will be achieved by using electrodeposition techniques. The characterization of the resulting BioMOFs and Zn-BioMOFs involves X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). 
The stability of the device and the efficiency of the drug delivery will be assessed in biomimetic media using advance electrochemical and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques, respectively. A deep characterization of the surface, during the degradation of the Zn-BioMOFs material, will be performed with a combination of several advanced techniques.
The ultimate goal is to achieve new and more efficient, as well as affordable biomaterials for transient bone and cardiovascular pathologies.

Keywords

BioMOF, biomaterial; electrochemistry; mechanochemistry; resorbable

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