InGRID – the Interdisciplinary Group for Resorbable Implant Development was established in 2025 to accelerate research and innovation in implants that naturally dissolve within the human body. Biodegradable implants hold the potential to eliminate the need for secondary surgeries to remove implants, reduce the risk of hypersensitivity reactions, and actively support healing, particularly in trauma and orthopedic applications. Through our work, we strive to enhance patients’ quality of life while driving innovations that make healthcare more effective and affordable.
InGRID News
Best Poster Award for InGRID at Biomaterials conference in Shenzhen
The InGRID group participated in the International Conference on Biomaterials in Shenzhen, China, presenting recent results on biodegradable magnesium alloys across both oral and poster sessions. The contributions reflected ongoing work on the design, processing, and performance of resorbable materials for medical applications.
Karel Tesař presented a talk titled Resorbable Mg-0.4Zn strands for bone fixation: pilot in vivo tests on minipigs, where he introduced the latest progress in the development of magnesium-based cerclage strands. The presentation covered both the mechanical behaviour of the strands and their biological response, with a focus on their performance under in vivo conditions and their potential use in reconstructive surgery.
In the poster sessions, Jiří Liška presented In vitro corrosion behavior of biodegradable Mg–Zn alloys for implant applications, addressing the relationship between alloy composition, degradation kinetics, and suitability for biomedical use. Leonard Hlodák presented his poster Micromechanical and biodegradation properties of a rapidly solidified Mg-1.3Zn alloy with gradient microstructure, focusing on the link between processing, microstructural gradients, and local mechanical and corrosion properties. His contribution was recognized with a Best Poster Award, and he received a diploma from the esteemed Prof. Xingyu Jiang during the conference.
Alongside the scientific program, the meeting provided opportunities for discussion and collaboration. We met with Martin Balog from Slovakia and his team to discuss future research directions, particularly in the area of extrusion and advanced processing routes for magnesium alloys. In addition, Karel Tesař attended a lunch meeting with journal editors, where discussions with representatives of Biomaterials, Materials Today Bio, Exploration, and other journals focused on current developments in biomaterials research and scientific publishing.
Our Ph.D. student Théo Raffort has published his first article
Our Ph.D. student Theo Raffort has published his article titled "Assessing the superelastic properties of SPS NiTi alloy by nanoindentation", as part of the InGRID group’s research activities. We are pleased to share this contribution, which advances the understanding of superelastic behavior in NiTi alloys.
The study focuses on a superelastic Nitinol alloy synthesized by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) and investigated using nanoindentation. It demonstrates that spherical indentation provides a more accurate assessment of superelastic properties than the conventional Berkovich tip. A strong agreement between nanoindentation and cyclic tensile tests was also observed.
The results reveal that the SPS-processed alloy exhibits superior superelastic recovery compared to a commercial material, highlighting the great potential of SPS for producing high-performance superelastic alloys. This work also confirms nanoindentation as a reliable tool for the rapid characterization of such materials and benefited from the guidance of supervisors and the support of the FerrMion project.
Discussions on planned surgical procedures for in vivo trials of Mg cerclage strands
Members of the InGRID team visited the Biomedical Center of the Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, to discuss the planned surgical procedures for upcoming in vivo trials of our Mg-Zn cerclage strand prototypes intended for reconstructive hand surgery. The visit brought together Karel Tesař, Jiří Liška, Leonard Hlodák, and Jan Pinc with close collaborators Tomáš Herma and Margit Žaloudková, enabling a detailed exchange between materials scientists and surgeons.
The discussions focused on practical aspects of implant design and handling, including the braiding of the strands, their polymer coating, and the overall usability of the prototypes during surgical procedures. Valuable feedback from the surgical team helped to refine the geometry and structural design of the strands, ensuring that further development aligns closely with clinical requirements.
An important part of the visit was the consultation with Dr. Pavel Klein, an expert in in vivo rat model surgery, who discussed experimental strategies together with Tomáš Herma. These discussions contributed not only to the preparation of future in vivo testing, but also to the design of advanced in vitro experiments. The goal is to simulate surgical handling and implant degradation as realistically as possible while minimizing the need for animal testing, in line with InGRID’s long-term commitment to the European 3R principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement).
About
InGRID was founded in 2025 at the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering (FNSPE) of the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) as a direct result of the GACR Junior Star project (25-17788M) awarded by the Czech Science Foundation (GACR): Dynamic testing and in vitro–in vivo correlation of magnesium implants: multidisciplinary challenges. Although the group leader, K. Tesař, is based in the Department of Materials, InGRID is designed to tackle a broad spectrum of topics. Its members come from various FNSPE departments, including the Department of Solid State Engineering and the Department of Radiation Chemistry.
However, the reach of InGRID extends far beyond FNSPE alone. To effectively address the interdisciplinary challenges in the research and development of resorbable implants, we are fortunate to collaborate with a wide range of external group members and collaborators. Among these, a prominent partner is the FZU – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Here, K. Tesař works within the Department of Dielectrics, while our deputy group leader, J. Pinc, is based at the Department of Functional Materials.
We believe that fundamental research on resorbable metallic implants, particularly those based on magnesium and zinc, is crucial to overcoming the current challenges in implant development. Key questions remain unanswered: the origins of in vitro–in vivo correlation factors are still not fully understood; effective strategies to suppress and repurpose the hydrogen generated during magnesium implant degradation are lacking; and many alloys could benefit from optimization through advanced metallurgical approaches.
To achieve these goals and more, InGRID provides a framework for interdisciplinary collaboration, covering the entire pathway of implant development. Our work spans from mathematical modelling and the use of artificial intelligence for alloy design, through implant manufacturing and characterization, to corrosion testing and biological evaluation. To ensure effective communication and targeted progress, InGRID is organized into ten specialized subgroups, each focusing on a specific area. For example, InGRID-MANU is dedicated to the manufacturing of semi-products and implants.
Yet, we do not intend to stop there. We recognize that for research to truly benefit society, it must be effectively translated into practice. That is why we actively pursue knowledge transfer and welcome collaboration with implant manufacturers and other industry partners.
As a university-based research group, we are proud that many of our members are students. We actively welcome not only doctoral candidates but also bachelor’s and master’s students who are interested in our research topics. FNSPE holds a unique position in the Czech Republic, encompassing most of the disciplines necessary for the development of new implants. We therefore hope that our reach will continue to expand into other fields of study that can support and strengthen our goals.
Despite our group’s name, our research extends beyond the development of resorbable implants alone. We are also engaged in studying other implant materials, such as titanium and titanium alloys produced through severe plastic deformation techniques, conventional machining, and 3D printing, as well as shape-memory and superelastic alloys like Nitinol for biomedical applications. Additionally, we explore quasicrystal-strengthened magnesium alloys and quasicrystals themselves. We believe that broadening our collaborations and applying our infrastructure to diverse topics can bring fresh insights to our core research, particularly in the fields of materials characterization and manufacturing.
Collaborations
We are fortunate to collaborate with a number of domestic and international partners. In addition to our close ties with FZU, we maintain a long-standing collaboration with the Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IRSM), particularly in the area of polymer coatings for our implants. As part of CTU, and together with FZU and IRSM, we strive to translate our joint research into practical applications. This has already resulted in a Czech national patent: Method of surface treatment of a material based on magnesium alloys. More recently, we have initiated a productive collaboration with the group led by P. Tichá at the Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, enabling us to extend our research to in vivo experiments and advanced histological evaluations.
In terms of industrial partners, we are looking forward to the collaboration with the Czech implant manufacturer Medin, a.s., regarding Mg- and Zn-based implants and their currently used titanium alternatives. Internationally, we maintain a long-standing partnership with the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Japan, particularly in the areas of magnesium alloys, including their production, thermomechanical processing, and characterization. As part of this collaboration, our students regularly participate in the NIMS Internship Program, and we plan to send our Ph.D. students to the International Cooperative Graduate Program (ICGP) to further strengthen our ties and support their research development.