Archive for bioceramics
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Video of the week: Biomedical applications of multifunctional nanomaterial systems
I got a chance to interview Muhammet S. Toprak at the recent ICACC’10 conference. Toprak is a researcher in the Multifunctional Materials Division of the KTH – Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. In this video, Toprak discusses his work as part of a cross-functional team that is working to assemble and test nanoparticle systems for biomedical applications. In particular, they have been working on the synthesis, characterization and in vitro compatability (with immune-competent cells) of tunable superparamagnetic Fe3O4–SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles.
In general, the systems Toprak is working on are similar to those that were discussed in last week’s video regarding drug-delivery systems. Toprak’s materials are conceived as being as being able to deliver a payload, but they are first working on using them to improve imaging of biological tissue sites. For example, he discusses how particles loaded with both magnetic materials (such as iron) and flourescent dyes could help with imaging a specific tumor, first, before treatment, to plan a surgical approach, and second, during the surgery to indicate if and where residual tumor cells need to be removed.
8 minutes.
Video of the week - Aldo Boccaccini on the vitrification of hazardous wastes, bioglass and electrophoretic deposition
Aldo Boccaccini is a professor in materials science at Imperial College, U.K. and a member of the London Center for Nanotechnology, a joint project between Imperial College and University College, U.K. In this video, he discusses some of his early work in developing vitrification techniques to render hazardous wastes, such as incinerator residues, inert. He delves into some of his work to develop bioglass materials for tissue engineering scaffolds. Finally, Boccaccini explains some of his pioneering work in the use of electrophoretic deposition for production of nanostructured materials and composites, including composites that contain carbon nanotubes. 13 minutes.
Earlier this year, Boccaccini was named the scientific international adviser to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Argentina (his homeland).
For more information about vitrification of hazardous wastes, see this post about DC plasma techniques.
Video of the week - Delbert E. Day on treating cancer with glass microspheres
Del Day, the Curators’ Professor Emeritus of Missouri University of Science and Technology, discusses his work in the field of bioglass. Day, a former president of ACerS, has spent several decades researching bioceramic and bioglass materials, and developing applications for those materials. He is best known for his work in creating glass microspheres that can be used to encapsulate and deliver tiny amounts of radioactive materials. The Mo-Sci Corp., a company Day founded and still leads, manufactures these microspheres. Today, the Cleveland Clinic and other leading medical facilities use Mo-Sci microspheres for the treatment of liver and other cancers. 13 minutes.
Video of the week - Jain on biomed applications of glass
Lehigh University professor Himanshu Jain discusses the school’s work to lead an international effort to develop biocompatible, dually porous glass that helps damaged human bone to regenerate. Jain, who teaches in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, was the subject of another post we did about a week ago concerning a project to encourage more African-Americans to adopt science and engineering careers.
Iranian research getting noticed
