Sophie Nguyen
In silico design of degradable joint implants for optimal balancing of tissue formation and implant degradation
- In silico medecine
- Computational biomechanics
- Biodegradable implants
Placing a hip prosthesis has a particularly high clinical success rate. Ideally, the repaired joint should last a lifetime, reality shows that 20 years after the placement of the primary THA, the revision rate varies from 15% for patients aged 60-74 years to 40% for patients younger than 50 years; caused by aseptic loosening. This represents a great burden and will intensify with an aging and growing population. A new class of implant will be designed to preserve the remaining bone and prevent further bone loss. The implant will consist of a permanent part and a degradable part. This degradable part is patient-specific to fill the bone defect and its microstructure is optimized to stimulate bone ingrowth. Then, along with the process of bone ingrowth, the process of degradation will also be simulated. Finally, the combination of the latter two functionalities ensures that at the end of the joint’s lifespan the degradable part is fully replaced by healthy new bone and only the permanent part remains. Therefore, the defect resulting from each revision surgery is willing to remain as limited as possible.
Graduated as Biomedical Engineer, at University of Liège (Belgium), in 2023.
Master’s thesis: In silico clinical trial to predict the efficacy of alendronate (osteoporotic drug) for preventing hip fractures, at IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli (Italy).
sophie.nguyen [at] kuleuven.be
Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven
Celestijnenlaan 300C
3001 Heverlee (Leuven), Belgium
Room 04.210
Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA In silico Medicine, University of Liège, CHU-B34, +5. Quartier Hôpital, Avenue de l’Hôpital, 11, 4000 Liège, Belgium