Tag: Materials

Nanocomposite Heart Valve to Replace Animal-Derived Devices

Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have developed a nanocomposite biomaterial heart valve that could provide an alternative to the animal valves that are currently used as heart valve replacements. Moreover, the nanocomposite valves can be delivered to the heart through a transcatheter, allowing for minimally invasive placement (Read more...)

Contraceptive Jewelry from Georgia Tech

Contraceptives are very effective, as long as they’re administered on a tight schedule. All too often many women forget or ignore to take the pill, leading to unwanted surprises. Researchers at Georgia Tech, taking into account today’s fashion of wearing unusual jewelry, have developed an earring, necklace, ring, and a wrist watch, each (Read more...)

CRISPR-Chip Can Detect Genetic Mutations Within Minutes

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the Keck Graduate Institute of The Claremont Colleges have developed a hand-held device that can detect genetic mutations, such as those causing genetic diseases or affecting how people respond to certain drugs, in just minutes. The device employs a combination of CRISPR and graphene transis (Read more...)

Fingertip Elasticity Probe Helps Spot Breast Tumors

Our fingertips are incredibly sensitive biomechanical devices. They’re regularly used by physicians to feel out tumors during biopsy or excision surgeries. While reasonably effective, too many patients return for repeat procedures to remove missed bits of target lesions. Researchers at University of Western Australia have been working on (Read more...)

Interview with Tom Reeves, CEO of Interface Biologics

Interface Biologics Inc (IBI) is a company from Toronto, Ontario, Canada that develops medtech and pharmaceutical materials. Their surface modification technology is called Endexo, which involves fluorine-based additives that migrate to a material’s surface during polymerization. This non-stick fluorination prevents platelets and bacteria fro (Read more...)

Injectable Bone Scaffolding Made of Plant Cellulose

The majority of bone implants, cements, and grafts are hard objects that don’t always work well in filling the space they’re supposed to inhabit. Soft objects can gently expand and relocate their mass evenly over a volume, and they tent to be less dense so as to leave room for cells to make home inside […]

Bioreactors Inside Body Grow New Bones for Transplantation

Injuries and disease often necessitate putting something in place of where natural bone is. While there are custom-made artificial orthopedic implants and native bone grafts, researchers from Rice University have now shown a new and better way. The team printed in 3D a bioreactor mold within which new bone can grow. It is made to be […]

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Bioengineered Gel to Reduce Risk of Bone Marrow Transplants

Bone marrow transplantation is a potentially life-saving treatment for leukemia, multiple myeloma, and HIV. The procedure involves depleting the patient’s immune system, then infusing blood stem cells from a donor, which develop into a new immune system. Unfortunately, during the transplant process, patients are susceptible to disease and inf (Read more...)