Biomedical Engineering Seminar by Dr. Sunil Kumar on 13 Nov at 11:30 AM

Dr. Sunil Kumar (Founder and Director, CoatingsMantra Science and Technology Consulting, Adelaide, Australia) is scheduled to visit IIT Ropar on Wednesday, 13 November 2013. He will deliver a talk as per the following details:
 
Time/Date: 11:30 AM, Wednesday, 13 November 2013.
Venue: Lecture Hall 3 (L3)
Title: Nanoscale Surface Engineering for Biomedical Applications
 
Abstract: 
Surface engineering on the nanoscale is a potent approach for realising a range of novel and value-adding healthcare applications. For example, in biomedical engineering, improved fixation of bone implants has been demonstrated upon imparting nanoscale physico-chemical functionalities to the implant surface. 
 
This talk is centred on applying low-temperature plasma processing for inducing bioactivity (ability of a material to bond with bone) in otherwise bioinert metallic and ceramic bone implant materials. The bioactivity thus induced is seen as a key strategy for improving the fixation of bone implants (orthopaedic, dental and craniofacial prostheses). A patented three-step plasma process developed by the speaker and his co-workers was used for inducing bioactivity in: (i) stainless steel orthopaedic screws/pins (metallic implants) commonly used for internal and external fixation of bone; and (ii) robocast alumina scaffolds, being developed for realising all-ceramic implants. Some key results from these two case studies will be presented and discussed.
 
Case Study I: Stainless steel screws/pins were surface functionalised with hydroxyl groups using two steps of the patented three-step plasma process. The bioactivity of the functionalised screws was investigated in vitro by treating them with simulated body fluid (SBF). The SBF treatment resulted in a thin, continuous surface layer of hydroxyapatite on the screws, thus confirming their bioactivity.
 
Case Study II: Both the exterior and interior surfaces of robocast alumina scaffolds with sub-millimetre pore sizes were successfully coated with a thin layer of bioactive silica using the patented three-step plasma process. The three-dimensional surface engineering thus achieved was confirmed and quantified using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
 
Some novel concepts based on low-temperature plasma deposition will be discussed at the end, primarily aimed at generating biomaterial surfaces with nanoscale chemical and topographical gradients for modulating the response of bone cells.
 
About the Speaker:

Dr Sunil Kumar currently directs an independent scientific consulting business (named CoatingsMantra) based in Adelaide, Australia. Prior to directing this consulting business, he held a professorship at the University of South Australia, Adelaide. His research is centred on investigating plasma-based methods for depositing and processing biomedical coatings and biomaterials (healthcare sector). Application of plasma processing, nanomaterials and surface engineering for cleantech is a research area Dr Kumar has recently started to build. Dr Kumar has published over 80 peer-reviewed papers (with over 1600 citations, h index ≥ 25) and over 100 conference papers, including several invited talks. He has five patents/applications to his credit. His current and most recent international roles include: Research Expert of International Standing, Australian Research Council; Editorial Board Member of The Open Biomedical Engineering Journal, The Open Process Chemistry Journal, and Journal of the Australian Ceramic Society; Steering Committee Member, IUVSTA - Biointerfaces Division; Organiser and Chair, Symposium D “Biomedical Coatings” of the prestigious, annual International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings and Thin Films, San Diego, CA, USA (2007 - 2011); Member, Technical Advisory Committee of the Society of Vacuum Coaters (USA); and Peer-reviewing for over 30 prestigious international research journals and funding agencies.
 
Driven by his childhood dreams of writing fiction, Dr Kumar is currently working on a couple of books, likely to be completed in 2014