July 29, 2013

New Coating May Help Joint Replacements Bond Better with Bone



Layer of Nanowire “Carpet” Gives Growing Cells a Foothold on Metal Implants

Broken bones and joint replacements may someday heal faster, thanks to an unusual coating for medical implants under development at The Ohio State University.

Researchers here have found that bone cells grow and reproduce faster on a textured surface than they do on a smooth one—and they grow best when they can cling to a microscopic shag carpet made of tiny metal oxide wires.