SBIR Phase II: Scalable Synthesis and Processing of Nanocrystalline Hydroxyapatite

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II Project proposes to use a newly developed synthetic nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HAP) bone material to produce high-strength, resorbable synthetic bone implants for anterior cruciate ligament surgeries. This material solves the problem of current orthopedic implants (made of polymer and/or metal) which either permanently reside as foreign material in the body or quickly degrade into a formless mass of non-ossified, non-load bearing tissue. The objectives of the Phase II work are to concurrently scale up manufacturing processes for HAP to near-commercial levels while developing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) prototype product for testing in vivo. The commercial impact of this project will be in the area of orthopedics. The proposed technology will help decrease the time of healing in surgeries requiring implants (fractiures, ACL) and will minimize the need for second surgeries to remove the screws and/or to correct for morbidities.