The use of biomaterials implants to treat injured and/or diseased bone is associated with biomaterials associated infections (BAI). So far, such infections are treated with implant replacement by multi-stage surgery and long time antibiotics, which is a high burden for the patients,. Due to the large number of patients, especially with osteosynthetic implants and prosthetic joints, there is an urgent need to address this challenge. A steadily growing number of elderly immunocompromised patients adds to the challenge and calls for new and coordinated efforts and responses.
The research idea of the RTG Materials-Microbe-Microenvironments (M-M-M) is to address these challenges and develop a new tailored antimicrobial materials platform with the potential for future clinical use. M-M-M will address these challenges and answer the following questions: Can antimicrobial biomaterials be tailored for specific microenvironments and applications? How can different antimicrobial actions be combined effectively in biomaterials? Can body cell promoting features be integrated into these antimicrobial biomaterials and what are effective strategies to do so? How can these innovative biomaterials be swiftly moved to the pre-clinical development stage? These questions will be addressed in six interdisciplinary PhD tandem projects with two doctoral researchers working on complementary materials science and medical science aspects of these questions in each project with one materials scientist and one medical professional working as team supervisors.
The RTG M-M-M comprises the following unique points: M-M-M develops an antimicrobial material platform consisting of different material systems that integrate: i) tailor-made specific micro-environments and promotion of the growth of specific body cells and tissues (e.g. osteoblast cells), ii) non-toxic, physical antimicrobial action principles (e.g. switchable materials surfaces or "sharp" materials edges) and, where possible, iii) the principle of combined action.
The expected increasing need for specifically and interdisciplinarily trained experts in this ambitious scientific field is the key motivation to promote early career researchers by M-M-M. They are urgently needed for research and development in the increasingly important field of antimicrobial implant materials.
The qualification programme for doctoral researchers focuses on the development of independent scientific work, providing excellent expert and peer teaching and coaching, and transfer of results into applications. In addition, soft skills of the doctoral researches will be developed by focused training which facilitates commutation across disciplines. Within the scope of doctoral projects, a common communication platform will be created between materials science and medical science which advances the understanding of the respective other discipline and thus develops creative solutions.

The RTG is funded by the German federal and state governments.