Professor Jason Alan Griggs scientific visit

• Grant number: 16/24243-8
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: July 10, 2017
• End date: July 19, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Materials
• Principal Investigator: Ana Flávia Sanches Borges
• Grantee: Ana Flávia Sanches Borges
• Visiting researcher: Jason Alan Griggs
• Visiting researcher institution: University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), United States
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this Project is to bring as a visitor researcher Professor Jason Alan Griggs, from University of Mississipi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA, for teaching and research activities in São Paulo State. Besides, it will reinforce a partnership between him and the responsible for the application, and also will extend this collaborative network with other São Paulo State researchers, especially those from the Brazilian Division of Biomaterials, Tribocorrosion and Nanomedicine Institute (IBTN/Br). As described in the IBTN/Br website, "we are a multidisciplinary research group (researchers from UNESP, USP, Unicamp, and INMETRO) that aims to find innovative solutions for clinical problems on biocompatibility, performance, and durability of biomedical implants. IBTN/Br acts on an international research environment including two parts, one in Brazil and another in the United States (IBTN/US)". Further information on: http://www2.fc.unesp.br/sgcd/#!/ibtnbr. A schedule with lectures and development of the experimental phase of a research project has been proposed. Based on previous studies on the same subject, and supported by FAPESP (FAPESP 2014/20471-0, CDFM/CEPID/FAPESP 2013/07296-2), the aim of this study is to evaluate the mechanical and biological properties of an experimental dense bovine hydroxyapatite ceramic added with ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles and TiO2 nanotubes, isolated and in association. Previous studies showed that although pure hydroxyapatite ceramic presents biocompatibility and composition similar to natural human bone and teeth, it presents unfavorable characteristics, such as low fracture toughness and flexural strength. Aiming to improve the mechanical properties of this ceramic, attempts to add other components during its processing phase seem to be relevant. After mechanical testing, the groups presenting satisfactory strength values will be selected for biological tests. (AU)