MICKL

Fractures are very common in the elderly, such as bone fragile as we age. Young people also have a high risk of fractures of daily life and sports activities. If a fraction is small, it may be the bone cement, such as polymethyl methacrylate. However, if the cut is, the more durable metal implants such as titanium and titanium alloys are used. The aim is not only divide to fill the space with equipment, the body weight, but also to promote the growth of new bone to recover completely bone functions.

In the past, the bone implants were inert material, selected because they did not influence the functions of the body or to produce scar tissue is a thick layer of tissue resistance, which is a implant. But this simple principle to solve for the implant to the bone that surround it, about 10 to 15 years. Relaxation is worse with time and can lead to significant pain. Accordingly, patients are often being subjected to the operation (the so-called review of the operation) for loose-implant and defining a new one. Review of the operation is undesirable because it is expensive, painful and still requires treatment for the patient.

It is not surprising that there is an ongoing effort to implant integration in the bone surrounding the patient for physical life. With their understanding of composition and bone-bone development, researchers have different methods, for once in inert implants implants, can promote bone growth.

One of the first approaches, more proactive bone implants for the chemistry of surface, the implant interaction with osteoblasts (bone forming cells). This method has led to a series of implant materials, such as bio-glass, to show that good bone formation. But scientists must often rely on the process of trial and error to find an implant material that not only bone growth, but also good mechanical properties for use in implants without cement, for example hip. These combinations are not always easy to find in a material or composite materials

Nanotechnology has courage further step towards the improvement of orthopedic implants, devices. Orthopädische Nanotechnology is based on the cells of the implant interactions. Cells are not directly with an implant, but in interaction with a layer of protein to absorb almost instantly to the implant insertion. Scientists have many implant materials, including titanium and titanium alloys, porous polymers, bone cements and hydroxyapatite, nano-features on their surfaces. The bulk materials’ characteristics remain unchanged, maintaining their desirable mechanical properties, but the surface modifications improve the interaction with proteins. As a result, cells of bone, the implant and to develop active bone.

Scientists are also creating “smart” implants, meaning the type of tissue grows over them, the information in a hand-held device and leave the drug on the application to promote tissue growth. These implants are the prevention of bone complications often seen after implantation, such as infections, inflammations (or scar tissue growth), the implant to resolve, and in case of bone cancer, cancer recurrence. Scientists have examined the implants, the mechanisms involved in protecting the body against infections (eg, silver and zinc) or inhibit the growth of a cancer (eg, selenium).

May promise significant recent progress in biological research, especially where nanotechnology is involved. But the discovery that the ideal of biomaterials, the life of the patient is always a challenge.