Project Description
My name is Maike and I am a PhD candidate researching bioabsorbable aortic stent grafts for traumatic aortic injury. Before joining BIOMEND, I completed my Master’s in Medical Engineering at FH Aachen University of Applied Science, where I gained experience working with bioabsorbable metals such as magnesium and zinc.
Aortic stent grafts are a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery, but conventional grafts made from permanent materials can lead to long-term complications such as device-related infections and tissue compatibility issues. Bioabsorbable stent grafts represent a significant advancement, offering temporary mechanical support while gradually degrading, eliminating the risks associated with long-term implants.
My research focuses on developing a bioabsorbable textile-covered stent-graft, integrating Mg or Zn alloy structures with silk fibroin-based electrospun coatings to ensure optimal mechanical performance and controlled degradation. The key objectives of my project are:
- Generating a Design I/O matrix based on clinical input and patient-specific needs
- Computational framework using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to optimise the stent-graft design for aortic compliance
- Prototype laser-cut or wire-braided graft structures using Mg or Zn alloys, coupled with silk fibroin-based nonwoven electrospun coatings (<30 µm filament diameter, <85% porosity)
- In-vitro bench testing to assess short-term implantation performance and accelerated testing to evaluate long-term degradation
- Validate the proof-of-concept by selecting the most promising prototype for preclinical (animal) testing
I am thrilled to collaborate with the University of Galway and Fibrothelium GmbH on this exciting research, which has the potential to improve patient outcomes and advance the field of endovascular medical devices.
Recruiting partner
University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
PhD enrollment
University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
Secondment host
Fibrothelium GmbH, Aachen, Germany
Lead Supervisors
Prof. Ted Vaughan (Galway)
Dr. Ing. Alexander Kopp (Fibrothelium)
