It's an advanced material world
Box 3 | Advanced materials in the human body
In the future humans will have the option of many more biomedical materials to help them live with less pain, heal faster, stay healthier and live longer. Recent research breakthroughs in biomaterials are listed below.
New lenses for better eyesight
The ability of the eye to focus on objects changes with age due to stiffening of the lens. A synthetic lens made from a transparent polymer is placed on the cornea of the eye during a simple operation. It is held in place by a surgical ‘glue’ and has a surface coating designed to promote cell growth. The lens can change shape in response to the contraction and relaxation of the muscles of the eye, restoring normal vision.
Moulded artificial bone
A new type of artificial bone is made from polymer and provides mechanical support until new bone grows. It encourages cell growth, can be sterilized and moulded like clay to fill spaces in bones that need to be repaired. It is also sticks to natural bone, hardens in a wet environment and does not damage surrounding tissues.
Building implants for plastic surgery
Implants of silicone or tissue taken from elsewhere in the patient's body have been used by plastic surgeons, but not far away will be implants created from the patient’s own stem cells. Scientists have invented a scaffold or support structure, which is ‘seeded’ with stem cells from bone marrow. The cells are encouraged to grow in the perfect shape for insertion in the body. Because they are made from the patient’s own tissues, they won’t be rejected by the immune system.
Electric powered muscles
New artificial muscles, made of a plastic that bends and contracts like biological muscle, could give future robots enormous dexterity, and also help paralysed humans regain mobility. Artificial muscles could be based on a simple, lightweight strip of highly flexible plastic that bends when electrical voltage is applied to it. Known as electroactive polymers, these strips can be fashioned to activate gripping devices like fingers.
Artificial red blood cells
In a Star Trek like advance, researchers are looking at artificial red blood cells that can be dehydrated, stored for months or even years, and then used for medical emergencies or on space voyages. Artificial red blood cells would eliminate the transfer of diseases such as AIDS or hepatitis through blood transfusions, and could be used to deliver medications to target cells.
Boxes
Box 1. What does a materials scientist do?
Box 2. Designing new materials
Related sites
Stand by for implantable contact lenses (ONSET, University of New South Wales, Australia)
Super glue for plastic people (Solve, CSIRO, Australia)
How to knit yourself some muscles (News in Science, 30 June 2005)
Unbreakable: the tough secrets of nature’s glue (New Scientist, 6 June 2007)
How to turn your skin into bone (New Scientist, 2 July 2005)
AIR: Artificially induced respiration (National Science Teachers Association, USA)
Page updated August 2007.