Biomaterials

Digital light processing allows for design of fine-featured bioceramic scaffolds

By Lisa McDonald / August 12, 2022

Digital light processing is one of the most promising additive manufacturing technologies for preparing ceramic scaffolds with complicated fine features. Three recent studies by several groups in China explore the use of this technique to fabricate bioceramic scaffolds for medical applications.

Read More

Boron nitride nanosheets show promise as antibacterial drugs

By Guest Contributor / June 24, 2022

Some materials being investigated for use as antimicrobial agents face the limitation that they cannot tell the difference between bacteria and mammalian cells. Researchers led by Soochow University found boron nitride nanosheets do not face this limitation.

Read More

Porosity-based heterojunctions may offer efficient and safer optoelectronic implants

By Lisa McDonald / June 14, 2022

The miniaturization of implantable medical devices is necessitating development of alternative energy systems. Researchers at the University of Chicago created porosity-based silicon heterojunctions that offer an efficient and safer way to perform optoelectronic modulation of tissues.

Read More

A sweet demonstration: Ceria helps make miniaturized implantable glucose fuel cells possible

By Guest Contributor / June 10, 2022

Glucose fuel cells allow for significant volumetric scale-down of implantable devices because they do not physically store energy like batteries. However, cells that use polymer-based electrolytes face some limitations. Researchers from MIT and the Technical University of Munich developed glucose fuel cells using a ceramic membrane that overcome these limitations.

Read More

Introduction to “Bioactive glasses” for Glass: Then and Now, plus other ACerS collections

By Jonathon Foreman / April 8, 2022

As part of the IYoG celebrations, ACerS’ “Glass: Then and Now” series is highlighting ACerS journal articles each month that support advancement in glass science and technology. The focus this month is bioactive glasses. Plus, ACerS is offering several other collections on this topic.

Read More

Unexpected starfish skeleton structure may help develop strong, lightweight ceramics

By Lisa McDonald / February 18, 2022

Marine creatures are a great source of inspiration for materials scientists looking to develop stronger and better structures. Researchers led by Virginia Tech found that the skeleton of the Protoreaster nodosus starfish offers valuable insights into designing porous calcium carbonate.

Read More

Inorganic materials as disinfectants—new glass and clay-based samples demonstrate broad virus inactivation

By Lisa McDonald / February 15, 2022

Disinfectants based on inorganic materials have gained much attention recently due to setbacks with organic-based disinfectants. Researchers in Spain investigated the ability of a soda-lime glass and nanoparticle-embedded clay to inactive different types of viruses.

Read More

Heartening advancements—researchers explore potential of inhalable particles to treat cardiovascular diseases

By Lisa McDonald / January 18, 2022

Inhalable medicine offers several advantages over injections. Researchers in Italy explored the development of inhalable drug-loaded calcium phosphate nanoparticles for treating myocardial cells in the heart.

Read More

Beyond soft tissue—researchers investigate effect of low-level laser therapy on osseointegration of implants in rats

By Lisa McDonald / November 12, 2021

Low-level laser therapy is typically used to treat soft tissue injuries and diseases. Researchers in Brazil and Ecuador explored the potential of the technique to treat bone defects instead, specifically by improving osseointegration of implants in brown rats.

Read More

Speeding detection of disease—three groups present novel sensors for COVID-19 diagnosis

By Lisa McDonald / November 9, 2021

Barriers to commercialization are not stopping scientists from developing new and improved methods for rapid testing of COVID-19. In today’s CTT, we look at three recent studies furthering research in this area.

Read More