Development Foundation supports artificial joint research
at NDSU
Annie Tangpong's basic research may someday have a lasting impact on a quality of life for a growing number of people. The NDSU assistant professor of mechanical engineering is exploring friction and wear on materials to be used in artificial joints.
"The lifespan for most artificial joints is about 20 years, and that can be a problem," explained Tangpong, who is interested in the bioengineering aspects of the issue. "More and more young people, particularly athletes, have injuries and need artificial joints. The longevity of these joints has become a major concern."
In Tangpong's fundamental work, she studies mechanical properties of materials used in the joints, including nano-composites developed by a colleague using nanotechnology.
"I take these newly developed nano-composite materials and do material testing. We test each nano-composite's friction, hardness and wear properties and try to study its mechanical properties from an experimental point of view. People want to know the capabilities of nanomaterials, and if they can increase the lifespan of artificial joints," Tangpong said. "Because nanotechnology brings new characteristics to mechanics, we want to understand this. So, we also do theoretical modeling work."
Tangpong has twice received funding from the NDSU Development Foundation's Centennial Endowment Fund. Those funds led to further research grants from the National Science Foundation. While her work is considered basic research, the biomechanics laboratory at the Mayo Clinic has expressed an interest in her initial efforts.
"I thank the NDSU Development Foundation for the initial support of this research. It was really helpful," said Tangpong, who joined the NDSU faculty in 2007. "Private support is very critical, and very important in some disciplines where funding is more difficult. It allows some preliminary research results that can help in applying for larger grants.
"It's not about how much each person can donate," Tangpong continued. "Everybody can contribute a little bit, and it sends a message that research is being valued here at NDSU."
Tangpong earned her bachelor's degree in China, her master's degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and her doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh.