Qian Kay Kang, MD
Research Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and Orthopaedics
Director of CU-MUSC Orthopaedic Research and Training Program
Director of CU-MUSC Orthopaedic Research and Training Program
MD 1979, Beijing Capital Medical University / Beijing Zhigong Medical College
Postdoctorate, Orthopaedic Research, 2000 Medical University of SC,
Postdoctorate, Orthopaedic Research, 2000 Medical University of SC,
Research Interests
Orthopaedic animal models and related histology and biomechanics
Bacterial adhesion and biomaterials centered infections
Tissue engineering on bone and cartilage repair
Bacterial adhesion and biomaterials centered infections
Tissue engineering on bone and cartilage repair
Email:
Office: CSB# 721 (MUSC Campus)
Phone: 843.792.7142/3584 (office/lab)
Office: CSB# 721 (MUSC Campus)
Phone: 843.792.7142/3584 (office/lab)
Honors, Awards, and Professional Activities
First place, Beijing Medical Bureau Exam for mid level physicians 1993Science Award, Beijing Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 1997Society Memberships:
Society For BiomaterialsOrthopaedic Research SocietyChinese Medical Association, Society for Orthopedic Surgery, China Clemson-MUSC Orthopaedic Research and Education Program
The program is a multi-functional orthopaedic research and education center involved in basic and applied research in multiple areas of orthopaedics and biomaterials, including research of improving bone or soft tissue ingrowth to implant surfaces, in vivo effects of growth factors on bone ingrowth, bone healing, and cartilage repair, prevention of bacterial adhesion and prosthetic infection, repair of bone defects using tissue engineering techniques, repair of cartilage defects using tissue engineering techniques, anatomy, biomechanics, implant designing, development of animal models for orthopaedic applications, and designing and testing of fixation devices for osteoporotic bone. Our Main Objectives are: 1) to promote basic and applied orthopaedic research leading to eventual human application, 2) to educate students and orthopaedic residents in orthopaedic research, 3) to promote collaborations with other institutions for the development of orthopaedic research 4) to assist the commercial orthopaedic community for the development of better human implants.
Current Research
Open Fracture Infection Rate
The current accepted time range of delay (less than 6 hours) for surgical treatment of open fractures is based on empirical estimation. Due to limitations of human studies, answers are still pending on infection rates of open fractures, which are operated on with longer delayed (9, 12, 24, or 36 hours). To rush a patient to a hospital for early surgical treatment may not be safe. To operate early on patients who’s general conditions are not favorable for fracture management is not safe, and apparently the lack of understanding of consequence of longer-delayed surgeries reduces surgeons’ confidence and may cause unneeded dissections, invasiveness, and excessive tissue removal. While knowing the importance of the data needed, waiting goes on for larger human studies. However, there are animal models of open fractures that can be used for studying the effect of delayed surgery on infection rates. Therefore, our team (with Dr. Hartsock, Dr. Wen, and Dr. An) is conducting a well-controlled animal model study to answer the question. Our null hypothesis is that an open fracture wound in a rabbit tibial open fracture model with a defined inoculum of bacteria may have no greater risk of infection after delayed debridement at 12, 24, or 36 hours compared to 6 hours. Infections will be diagnosed using clinical observation, histology, and microbiology methods.
Bone Ingrowth to New Implant Surfaces
This is a set of well-established animal protocols. We have been actively involved in testing bony ingrowth to new biomaterials for the last 15 years. In vivo testing of bone ingrowth to implant surfaces using rats, rabbits, dogs, goats, or sheep, including models of long bone implantation and calvarial on-lay grafting. Implants are prefabricated into the shapes of cylinder, plate, or discs. Methods of evaluation include radiographic analysis, histologic studies, and mechanical testing.
Nacre For Bone Repair
One major component for tissue engineering is the scaffold or carrier for cell seeding and/or growth factor impregnation. Powdered nacre (can be reshaped into porous structure), is a promising material aimed for bone defect repair by serving as a scaffold or graft extender. Studies have shown that nacre (mother of pearl from the oyster Pinctada maxima) stimulates bone cell differentiation and bone formation in vitro. Osteoblasts cell-seeded nacre powder constructs (treatment) and nacre powder constructs (control) will be implanted into nude mice subcutaneous tissue. The osteogenesis by the implanted constructs will be evaluated by macro observation, radiography, and histological analysis. After the initial in vivo step for investigating nacre as a scaffold material for bone tissue engineering, further testing using a larger animal model such as rabbit radial defect model, rabbit calvarial defect model, and/or bone defect models in goats, which will ideally lead to potential clinical use for humans.
Prevention and Treatment of Heterotopic Ossification
HO is a serious complication after total joint surgeries. HO decreases joint range of motion and can eventually block the movement of the affected joint. Only limited methods are available so far for preventing HO from happening, to include radiation therapy and indomethacin. A recent development is the research on the effects of gene products (such as BMP antagonist proteins) on prevention of HO. We are currently formulating a series of studies on local gene expression for producing factors/proteins that can down-regulate the local bone-forming potential. Microbiology, cell biology, and animal models will be used for the project.
Recent Publications
An YH, Kang QK, and Arciola CR: Animal Models of Osteomyelitis (an invited review). Int J Artif Organs, 29(4): 407-420, 2006
Kang QK, Wei G, An YH, Hartsock LA, Ma PX: Osteogenesis of Cell-Seeded Nano Hydroxyapatite Impregnated Polylactic Acid Scaffold. MUSC Orthopaedic Journal, 8:50-51, 2005
Kang QK, Hill CM, Demcheva M, Vournakis JN, An YH: Poly-n-acetyl Glucosamine-SO4 for repairing osteochondral defect in rabbits. Key Engineering Materials 288-289: 83-86, 2005
Kang QK, An YH, Moreira PL, Demcheva M, Vournakis J: Arterial embolization using poly-N-acetyl glucosamine gel in a rat kidney model. Anat Rec, 284A(1):454-459, 2005
Kang QK, LaBreck JC, and An YH: Sectioning Techniques for Decalcified Bone and Cartilage Tissue. In: An YH and Martin K (Eds): Handbook of Histology Methods for Bone and Cartilage. Humana Press, 2002
Berg EE, Pollard ME, Kang Q: Interarticular bone tunnel healing. Arthroscopy 17(2):189-95, 2001
