Biomaterials

Better bodies with biomaterials, plus more inside December 2020 ACerS Bulletin

By Lisa McDonald / November 19, 2020

The December 2020 issue of the ACerS Bulletin—featuring applications of ceramics and glass in the human body—is now available online. Plus—C&GM and ceramicSOURCE

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Tough beetles reveal secrets that could help join dissimilar materials

By April Gocha / November 17, 2020

The diabolical ironclad beetle can withstand crushing by forces up to 39,000-times its body weight. But what makes this little beetle so tough? A new study reveals some of the secrets the beetle stores in its tough exoskeleton, secrets that could aid in development of biomimetic materials and structures to join dissimilar materials in more robust ways.

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An en‘light’ening approach to cancer treatment: New GO-templated gold nanosheet shows promise for photothermal therapy

By Lisa McDonald / November 13, 2020

Traditional methods of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy for treating cancer can be extremely taxing on the body. Photothermal therapy is a minimally invasive and locally focused alternative, and a recent paper by researchers in China looks at the potential of a new graphene oxide-templated gold nanosheet for use in this treatment.

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Bioresorbable glass sensors: The future of medicine

By Jonathon Foreman / October 20, 2020

Bioresorbable glass sensors may offer a safe and convenient way to monitor patients for short periods. Two recent articles in an ACerS journal explore the properties and processing of bioactive glass for this unique application.

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Wouldn’t ewe know it—titanium-reinforced bioceramic implant induces cranial regrowth in sheep

By Lisa McDonald / October 16, 2020

In recent years, calcium phosphate ceramics are playing a bigger role in research on materials for cranioplasty grafts. Researchers from Sweden now showed the potential of a titanium-reinforced bioceramic containing several calcium phosphate phases to stimulate regeneration of bone in large cranial defects in sheep.

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Focused ion beam milling may improve accuracy of zirconia fracture toughness measurements

By Lisa McDonald / September 8, 2020

Partially stabilized zirconia is commonly used in restorative dentistry because of its superior mechanical properties, but accurately measuring its fracture toughness can be challenging. Researchers now show focused ion beam milling may improve the accuracy of a particular measurement method.

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Controlling inflammation—graphene quantum dots may help treat ulcerative colitis

By Lisa McDonald / June 23, 2020

To treat autoimmune diseases, researchers are actively identifying and developing materials that provide control over the immune response. Researchers in Korea found graphene quantum dots may provide an effective treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases.

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Bioactive glasses meet dendritic cells—exploring effects of bioactive glass ionic dissolution on the immune system

By Lisa McDonald / May 22, 2020

Bioactive glasses are considered biocompatible—but there still is much unknown about how these glasses interact with the immune system. In a recent open-access study, researchers in Germany explored how ions released during bioactive glass dissolution affect dendritic cells, a specialized immune cell that plays a crucial role in initiating primary immune responses.

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Brush your way to a whiter smile—piezocatalysis effect offers nondestructive tooth whitening

By Lisa McDonald / March 24, 2020

Common teeth whitening methods can damage teeth. Researchers in China propose a tooth whitening method based on the piezocatalysis effect may serve as an effective, nondestructive alternative.

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Hidden ceramics that impact the world, plus more inside April 2020 ACerS Bulletin

By Lisa McDonald / March 19, 2020

The April 2020 issue of the ACerS Bulletin—featuring catalytic substrates and filters and silicon nitride implants—is now available online. Plus—second issue of C&GM

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