12/12/2025 at 11:00, Aula Seminari, Building RM004
Silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) has emerged as a uniquely “gifted” bioceramic whose surface chemistry, structural versatility, and bioactive behavior redefine what advanced ceramics can achieve in medicine. In this lecture, it will explored how the intrinsic physicochemical features of silicon nitride, its controlled nitrogen release, in situ formation of biogenic silanols, and stable yet highly functionalizable oxynitride interface, can create a surface environment that is simultaneously osteogenic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. By combining Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and in vitro cell-material interaction studies, the lecture will clarify the molecular-scale processes underlying protein adsorption, bacterial membrane disruption, hydroxyapatite nucleation, and redox-modulating reactions unique to Si₃N₄. It will be further highlighted the distinct biomedical advantages of silicon nitride in both its bulk form, where mechanical strength, radiolucency, and long-term chemical stability support load-bearing spinal and orthopedic implants, and as a thin coating, where its tunable surface functionalities enhance the bioperformance of metals and polymers. Applications spanning orthopedics, dental medicine, soft-tissue engineering, neurosurgery, and antimicrobial coatings for high-risk clinical environments will be presented. Special attention will be given to recent developments in Si₃N₄-coated titanium and polymer implants, which combine structural resilience with superior osseointegration and infection resistance. By showcasing silicon nitride as a bioceramic that couples structural excellence with a biologically intelligent surface, this lecture will position Si₃N₄ as a transformative material platform capable of shaping the next generation of regenerative and infection-resistant medical technologies.