Biomaterials

Electrospinning of bioceramics for bone tissue engineering

By Guest Contributor / February 27, 2024

The inherent brittleness of bioceramics makes them difficult to shape using traditional subtractive manufacturing methods. Electrospinning has emerged as an alternative to additive manufacturing to produce nanoscale, composite bioceramic parts.

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Health hazards of space travel: Investigating the effects of high-energy radiation on synthetic bone materials

By Lisa McDonald / February 23, 2024

Exposure to high-energy radiation is a main health concern for future human space travel. Researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County investigated the effects of high-energy radiation on hydroxyapatite, an important bone material.

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Flexible artificial retinas: an emerging paradigm with significant potential for treating eye diseases

By Guest Contributor / February 13, 2024

To date, efforts to develop retinal prostheses have achieved limited success. But the turn toward flexible rather than rigid platforms for these devices is leading to significant advances in the research community.

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Reducing aggregate toxicity: Graphene oxide may aid in treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

By Lisa McDonald / October 31, 2023

In vitro studies have demonstrated the potential of graphene oxide to help treat Alzheimer’s disease by preventing the buildup of harmful amyloid-β aggregates. Researchers in Sweden and Denmark used yeast as a model system to explore graphene oxide’s potential in vivo.

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Integrating orthopedic implants—several strategies improve adhesion strength of bioactive glass coatings

By Lisa McDonald / September 22, 2023

Bioactive glass offers numerous benefits as a coating material for metallic implants, but achieving strong adhesion between the glass and implant is a challenge. University of Barcelona researchers explored several strategies for improving the adhesion strength of bioactive glass coatings deposited using atmospheric plasma spraying.

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Self-sufficient glucose monitoring system successfully manages diabetes in mice

By Lisa McDonald / April 21, 2023

Continuous glucose monitoring systems can help alleviate the mental burden of diabetes management, but there are limitations to powering current systems. Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a self-sufficient glucose monitoring system that not only registers excess glucose but initiates the release of insulin into the blood. They successfully tested the device in mice.

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Introduction to “Bioceramics” for ACT @ 20

By Jonathon Foreman / March 7, 2023

To celebrate the milestone of the 20th volume of the International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, the editorial team assembled a selection of journal papers representing the excellent work from the advanced ceramics community. The focus this month is bioceramics.

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Video: Translating bioceramic research from the lab to the clinic—a discussion with William Bonfield

By Lisa McDonald / November 30, 2022

To fulfill the growing demand for bioceramics and bioactive glasses, scientists will need to not only innovate new materials but translate them to market. In an interview, William Bonfield, recipient of the 2021 Larry L. Hench Lifetime Achievement Award, shares advice for others looking to translate their innovations into clinical settings.

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Kicking cancer to the curb: A review of ceramics and glasses for cancer diagnosis and therapy

By Lisa McDonald / October 4, 2022

To enable effective cancer detection and treatment, ceramic and glass biomaterials have been heavily investigated. A recent review paper provides an overview of the main ceramics and glasses being explored for this purpose.

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Addressing the real problem: Through muscle regeneration, graphene-polymer matrix lowers risk of rotator cuff retear injuries

By Lisa McDonald / August 23, 2022

Most rotator cuff repair procedures focus on the tendon, but the real problem is that the muscle degenerates and accumulates fat. University of Connecticut School of Medicine researchers led by ACerS Fellow Cato Laurencin developed a graphene-polymer matrix that induces a reversal of muscle degeneration, thereby greatly lowering the risk of rotator cuff retear injuries.

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