Development and evaluation of Mesosil antimicrobial additives for orthopedic bone cement - ON-1075

Project type: Innovation
Desired discipline(s): Engineering - biomedical, Engineering, Biochemistry / Molecular biology, Life Sciences, Chemistry, Natural Sciences
Company: Mesosil Inc.
Project Length: 4 to 6 months
Preferred start date: As soon as possible.
Language requirement: English
Location(s): Toronto, ON, Canada
No. of positions: 1
Desired education level: Master'sPhDPostdoctoral fellow
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: No

About the company: 

Mesosil designs and manufactures sustained-release responsive ingredients for use in dental materials and medical devices to prevent treatment failure. Mesosil partners with manufacturers and suppliers to enhance product offerings by integrating innovative antimicrobial and bioactive solutions. Its primary geographic market is North America, with ongoing strategies to expand globally, addressing unmet needs in infection prevention and biocompatibility across multiple medical and dental applications. Mesosil’s R&D and engineering teams specialize in materials science, with deep expertise in synthesizing and scaling up silica and polymer-based materials. The technical teams also conduct in-depth antibacterial studies and integrate additives into dental materials. Mesosil is capable of measuring and evaluating the physical and antibacterial properties of medical devices, delivering tailored solutions across the dental and broader medical devices

Describe the project.: 

This project focuses on developing and testing a new antimicrobial additive for bone cement applications, building on its success in dental materials. Mesosil is a mesoporous silica-based technology engineered to deliver antibacterial agents with precision and controlled release. While Mesosil has already been used in dental restorations to reduce bacterial proliferation around fillings and implants, extending this technology to bone cement represents a significant innovation. Orthopedic procedures such as joint replacements often carry a higher risk of deep infection, which can lead to complications such as implant failure. By leveraging Mesosil’s sustained release properties in bone cement, the aim is to reduce infection rates, enhance clinical outcomes, and decrease patient recovery time.

The primary tasks for the candidate include:
· Develop and perform biological analyses of Mesosil additives and customer finished products, analyse and present results
· Develop new products and procedures based on background scientific literature and laboratory experimentation
· Design, undertake and analyze various quality-assurance and performance tests for Mesosil additives based on ISO standards and regulatory requirements
· Antimicrobial Testing of prototype materials in vitro and potentially designing in vivo studies
· Data Analysis and Validation, and preparation of reports and presentations, potentially including conference presentation or white papers

From a methodological standpoint, the project will combine materials science, microbiological testing, and data-driven optimization. Standardized industry protocols for tests will be employed, alongside cutting-edge antibacterial assays. By applying rigorous analysis techniques, the candidate will ensure reproducibility and reliability of results. Ultimately, this project aims to introduce an innovative orthopedic product by translating proven dental technology into a new application domain, offering improved infection control and patient outcomes in bone cement procedures.

Required expertise/skills: 

Master’s, or PhD in biology, microbiology, biochemistry, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, or a related field
· Proven ability to handle and culture various bacterial species, including those relevant to bone or dental infections
· Experience in working with oral/dental pathogens and/or pathogens related to bone infection (Osteomyelitis) is highly desirable
· Proficiency in microbiological techniques, such as confocal microscopy, SEM, and molecular biology assays (e.g., PCR, gel electrophoresis)
· Familiarity with statistical analysis methods and software (e.g., GraphPad Prism, R) for data interpretation
· Experience with basic material synthesis and characterization techniques, particularly related to biomaterials or anti-infective additives (drug release kinetics, SEM/TEM, mechanical properties)
· Working knowledge of Quality Management Systems (QMS) under ISO 13485 or similar regulatory standards Assets
· Prior experience in a start-up environment, demonstrating agility and a willingness to tackle diverse challenges
· Hands-on involvement in product development from bench to scale-up, especially in medical devices or related fields Additional certifications or training in GLP or other relevant industry standards