A transparent flexible material of silk and nanotubes

Nanotube interactions with silk fibroins - key to flexible, degradable electronics

02-Nov-2018 - The silk fibers produced by Bombyx mori, the domestic silkworm, has been prized for millennia as a strong yet lightweight and luxurious material. Although synthetic polymers like nylon and polyester are less costly, they do not compare to silk's natural qualities and mechanical properties. And ...

3-D-printed biomaterials that degrade on demand

12-Sep-2017 - Brown University engineers have demonstrated a technique for making 3-D-printed biomaterials that can degrade on demand, which can be useful in making intricately patterned microfluidic devices or in making cell cultures than can change dynamically during experiments. "It's a bit like Legos," ...

Research team can bond metals with nearly all surfaces

09-Sep-2016 - Through this "nanoscale-sculpturing" process, metals such as aluminium, titanium, or zinc can permanently be joined with nearly all other materials, become water-repellent, or improve their biocompatibility. The potential spectrum of applications of these "super connections" is extremely broad, ...

3-D graphene has promise for bio applications

06-Sep-2016 - Flakes of graphene welded together into solid materials may be suitable for bone implants, according to a study led by Rice University scientists. The Rice lab of materials scientist Pulickel Ajayan and colleagues in Texas, Brazil and India used spark plasma sintering to weld flakes of graphene ...

Biodegradable composites

A significant advance in medical implant technology

24-Jun-2016 - Evonik is conducting cutting-edge research into biodegradable high-strength composites. These materials could potentially replace metal in implants used for the internal fixation of fractured bones. Implants play a key role in supporting bones until they heal. Today’s metallic devices typically ...

Clay nanotube-biopolymer composite scaffolds for tissue engineering

02-May-2016 - The fabrication of a prototype tissue having functional properties close to the natural ones is crucial for effective transplantation. Tissue engineering scaffolds are typically used as supports which allow cells to form tissue-like structures essentially required for the correct functioning of ...

Brain process takes paper shape

14-Feb-2014 - A paper-based device that mimics the electrochemical signalling in the human brain has been created by a group of researchers from China. The thin-film transistor (TFT) has been designed to replicate the junction between two neurons, known as a biological synapse, and could become a key component ...

Biomimetic bricks inspired by nacre

09-Apr-2013 - Chinese chemists have developed a new nacre-like material which is stronger than natural nacre (mother of pearl). Nacre is a naturally occurring composite formed from calcium carbonate and biopolymers which create a brickwork structure. It is also nearly a thousand times stronger than any of its ...