Nanotechnology Now

Our NanoNews Digest Sponsors
Heifer International



Home > Press > Toward a better material for hip replacement and other joint implants

Toward a better material for hip replacement and other joint implants
Credit: Photodisc/Thinkstock
Toward a better material for hip replacement and other joint implants

Credit: Photodisc/Thinkstock

Abstract:
In an advance toward a new generation of improved hip and other joint replacements, scientists are describing development of a potential implant material that flexes more like natural bone, fosters the growth of bone that keeps implants firmly in place and is less likely to fail and require repeat surgery. Their study on these so-called tantalum nanotube materials appears in ACS Applied Material & Interfaces.

Toward a better material for hip replacement and other joint implants

Washington, DC | Posted on September 19th, 2012

Hongyi Li, Jinshu Wang and Zhenting Zhang explain that the metal tantalum has advantages over titanium, stainless steel and other metals used in the current generation of bone implants. For example, tantalum implants are more porous than titanium, encouraging bone growth and making the implants rougher and more elastic, like natural bone. So far, however, tantalum has found use mainly in devices that bridge fractures and other defects in bone, rather than in hip joint replacements and other joint implants. The scientists set out to find a new coating for tantalum to make better implants.

The results suggest that a film of tantalum oxide nanotubes — each more than 1,000 times thinner than a human hair — can help tantalum joint replacements integrate better with existing bone. The coating improves the anticorrosion, biocompatibility and other beneficial aspects of pure tantalum. The films also helped spur bone growth in tests with animal bone cells used as stand-ins for human bone.

The authors acknowledge funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education Foundation, the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation, the State Key Laboratory of Electronic Thin Films and Integrated Devices, and the City Board of Education Technology Innovation Platform.

####

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Hongyi Li, Ph.D.
Beijing University of Technology
Beijing 100124
China
Phone: +86 10 67391101
Fax: +86 10 67391101

or
Jinshu Wang, Ph.D.
Beijing University of Technology
Beijing 100124
China
Phone: +86 10 67391101
Fax: +86 10 67391101

or
Zhenting Zhang, Ph.D.
Capital Medical University
Beijing 100050
China
Phone: +86 10 67099279
Fax: +86 10 67391101

Copyright © American Chemical Society (ACS)

If you have a comment, please Contact us.

Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Bookmark:
Delicious Digg Newsvine Google Yahoo Reddit Magnoliacom Furl Facebook

Related Links

DOWNLOAD FULL TEXT ARTICLE - “Study on the Anticorrosion, Biocompatibility, and Osteoinductivity of Tantalum Decorated with Tantalum Oxide Nanotube Array Films”

Related News Press

News and information

Decoding hydrogen‑bond network of electrolyte for cryogenic durable aqueous zinc‑ion batteries January 30th, 2026

COF scaffold membrane with gate‑lane nanostructure for efficient Li+/Mg2+ separation January 30th, 2026

Breathing new life into nanotubes for a cooler planet:Researchers at Skoltech discover a simple, single-step heat treatment that nearly doubles the CO2-trapping power of carbon nanotubes January 30th, 2026

New light-based nanotechnology could enable more precise, less harmful cancer treatment: The approach offers a potential alternative to chemotherapy and radiation by using light and heat to target cancer cells. January 30th, 2026

Govt.-Legislation/Regulation/Funding/Policy

Metasurfaces smooth light to boost magnetic sensing precision January 30th, 2026

New imaging approach transforms study of bacterial biofilms August 8th, 2025

INRS and ELI deepen strategic partnership to train the next generation in laser science:PhD students will benefit from international mobility and privileged access to cutting-edge infrastructure June 6th, 2025

Electrifying results shed light on graphene foam as a potential material for lab grown cartilage June 6th, 2025

Nanotubes/Buckyballs/Fullerenes/Nanorods/Nanostrings/Nanosheets

Tiny nanosheets, big leap: A new sensor detects ethanol at ultra-low levels January 30th, 2026

Enhancing power factor of p- and n-type single-walled carbon nanotubes April 25th, 2025

Chainmail-like material could be the future of armor: First 2D mechanically interlocked polymer exhibits exceptional flexibility and strength January 17th, 2025

Innovative biomimetic superhydrophobic coating combines repair and buffering properties for superior anti-erosion December 13th, 2024

Nanomedicine

New molecular technology targets tumors and simultaneously silences two ‘undruggable’ cancer genes August 8th, 2025

New imaging approach transforms study of bacterial biofilms August 8th, 2025

Cambridge chemists discover simple way to build bigger molecules – one carbon at a time June 6th, 2025

Electrifying results shed light on graphene foam as a potential material for lab grown cartilage June 6th, 2025

Discoveries

From sensors to smart systems: the rise of AI-driven photonic noses January 30th, 2026

Decoding hydrogen‑bond network of electrolyte for cryogenic durable aqueous zinc‑ion batteries January 30th, 2026

COF scaffold membrane with gate‑lane nanostructure for efficient Li+/Mg2+ separation January 30th, 2026

Breathing new life into nanotubes for a cooler planet:Researchers at Skoltech discover a simple, single-step heat treatment that nearly doubles the CO2-trapping power of carbon nanotubes January 30th, 2026

Materials/Metamaterials/Magnetoresistance

First real-time observation of two-dimensional melting process: Researchers at Mainz University unveil new insights into magnetic vortex structures August 8th, 2025

Researchers unveil a groundbreaking clay-based solution to capture carbon dioxide and combat climate change June 6th, 2025

A 1960s idea inspires NBI researchers to study hitherto inaccessible quantum states June 6th, 2025

Institute for Nanoscience hosts annual proposal planning meeting May 16th, 2025

Announcements

Decoding hydrogen‑bond network of electrolyte for cryogenic durable aqueous zinc‑ion batteries January 30th, 2026

COF scaffold membrane with gate‑lane nanostructure for efficient Li+/Mg2+ separation January 30th, 2026

Breathing new life into nanotubes for a cooler planet:Researchers at Skoltech discover a simple, single-step heat treatment that nearly doubles the CO2-trapping power of carbon nanotubes January 30th, 2026

New light-based nanotechnology could enable more precise, less harmful cancer treatment: The approach offers a potential alternative to chemotherapy and radiation by using light and heat to target cancer cells. January 30th, 2026

NanoNews-Digest
The latest news from around the world, FREE




  Premium Products
NanoNews-Custom
Only the news you want to read!
 Learn More
NanoStrategies
Full-service, expert consulting
 Learn More











ASP
Nanotechnology Now Featured Books




NNN

The Hunger Project