Supervisors: Distinguished Professor Christopher Berndt and Dr Andrew Ang (Swinburne)
Thesis title: Bioactive ceramic coatings with antimicrobial properties to increase orthopaedic implant longevity
The short lifespan of orthopaedic implants is a major clinical problem, where failure often occurs within a few months because of infection, or within 10–15 years due to loosening. Most orthopaedic implants use titanium alloys (Ti-6Al-4V), which often cannot achieve sufficient integration with bone, and currently used hydroxyapatite coatings are prone to delamination and fragmentation. This doctoral thesis will develop a family of patented ceramics for use as novel implant coatings: Baghdadite (US patent 9,005,647), Sr-HT (US patent 8,765,163), and Sr-HT-Gahnite (US patent 9,220,806). It aims to develop a family of ceramic coatings for orthopaedic implants, featuring osteogenic and antimicrobial properties coupled with high bonding strength to prevent premature implant failure. We will optimise the plasma-spraying process for coating deposition to produce high bonding strength while ensuring that the inherent bioactivity and antimicrobial properties of the ceramics are retained. This will reduce the costs associated with revision surgery and greatly improve the recipients’ long-term quality of life.
Duy Quang Pham has strong skillsets in the fields of thermal spray, antimicrobial resistance and nanotechnology, where his research focuses on coatings with antimicrobial and bioactive properties for applications in medical industries. Pham also has extensive experience in manufacturing and R&D in both industrial and research sectors. He has five years professional engineering experience, where he worked for Kimberly-Clark Corporation focusing on production as well as research for personal care and family care products. Pham received his Master of Engineering from Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, graduating in the top 15% of students with highest academic achievement. Pham then worked as CSIRO in Manufacturing Flagships as a Research Officer before receiving an offer for a full scholarship to do his PhD at Swinburne University of Technology.
