9600325 Williams This award supports a 12 month Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowship for Dr. Betsy Newton-Williams at the Institute of Medical and Dental Engineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Newton-Williams will work with Dr. Nobuo Nakabayashi, Director of the Division of Organic Materials, on a research project entitled "In Vitro Evaluation of a Phospholipid Polymer for Medical Device Applications." The proposed research will evaluate the use of (methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) MPC copolymers as a surface enhancement to improve the performance of implants and inhibiting bacterial adhesion and cell attachment. The success of percutaneous implant devices has been limited due to attachment of the skin cells to the implant and excessive tissue growth around the implant. The implants also fail due to infection when bacteria adhere to the implant surface and gain access to the underlying tissue through the area between the skin and the implant. The objective of this research is to improve implant performance through the incorporation of an MPC copolymer and the prevention of cell and bacterial attachment. Different methods of incorporating MPC polymers onto the surface of the bulk material will be examined. The distribution of MPC and the integrity of the MPC on the material surface will be evaluated during research, as well as in vitro protein adsorption, cellular attachment, and bacterial adherence. ***
