In a written statement made by Hitit University Presidency, the project conducted by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yusuf Kanca, a faculty member of the Mechanical Engineering Department, was deemed worthy of support by TÜBİTAK. The project, which will be carried out in the university’s unit specializing in Machinery and Manufacturing Technologies, will be an important step for the treatment of early-stage calcification.
The project, which will be carried out under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hook aims to develop a biomaterial with the closest properties to natural tissue for use in the treatment of joint calcification. Kanca stated that calcification is a joint disorder that occurs with the loss of joint cartilage and subcartilage bone tissue, and that they are conducting a solution-oriented study for this problem, which affects more than 300 million people worldwide due to factors such as obesity and aging population.
Within the scope of the project, biocompatible hydrogels will be designed using a combination of synthetic and natural polymers, reinforced with nanoparticles and loaded with antibiotic active ingredients. These special biomaterials aim to provide an innovative alternative in the treatment of early-stage joint calcification by providing high wear resistance and protection against the risk of infection.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kanca emphasized that the active role of undergraduate and graduate students in the project will contribute positively to the training of qualified researchers and said, “With our project, we aim to develop biomaterials with properties closest to natural tissue.”
