2015-2016 Research Highlights
October 15, 2016
The ERC-RMB team continued to gain experience and deepen its knowledge base, leading to the development of various Mg-based alloys especially with different processing routes and conditions. Center scientists continued to progress on innovative non-biomedical technologies that are being developed or discovered while they investigated fundamental scientific issues in areas such as alloy development, coatings technology, corrosion control, sensor development and miniaturization, and so forth. Selected key accomplishments include listing of research-related activities, publications, patents, key meetings, sponsorships and ERC technology transfer.
A biodegradable drug-eluting stent that incorporated several ERC proprietary technologies was successfully tested in a pig model in Y7. In the one-month in vivo experiment, the biodegradable stent demonstrated the ability to dilate the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and increase the blood flow in the AVF with no observed negative response. The technologies incorporated in the AVF stents include an anti-proliferation polymer coating developed by the Dr. Wagner group, design and simulation by Dr. Yin, novel Mg alloy by Drs. Kumta and Xu, the pig AVF model by Dr. Roy-Chaudhury, and manufacturing technology by Drs. Shanov and Yin. During the in vivo testing, H2 sensors were used to measure the degradation of the stent by Dr. Heineman’s group. The ERC has established IP on most of these technologies. 
Engagement of ERC-RMB with small businesse company nanoMAG , an Industrial Advisory Boar Members of the ERC led to nanoMag receiving a SECO award, as well as increased interest from potential licensors of their proprietary technology. The ERC continues to work closely with nanoMag to design and conduct studies under the SECO award that would address questions related to translational potential for nanoMag posed by their potential investors. The ERC team’s synergistic relationship on the recent progress in examining histology of bioresorbable implants with nanoMAG, was featured in Dec 2014 Chemical Engineering Progress and at the NSF. 