Biomaterials

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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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.

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Boron nitride nanosheets show promise as antibacterial drugs

By Lisa McDonald / 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.

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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.

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