Scientists Create ‘Living Metal’ For Medical Implants |

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Scientists Create ‘Living Metal’ For Medical Implants

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Andrew Follett

July 8, 2016 10:43 AM ET

Scientists announced Friday they’ve successfully attached biologically active “living metal” to titanium, which could revolutionize how doctors create artificial joints and other implants.

Titanium is used by doctors to create implants because it is extremely strong and not harmful to human tissues, but the metal lacks beneficial biological properties of natural tissues like bone or natural teeth. “Living metal” created via the research combines the biological benefits of proteins with the physical strength of titanium.

A research team from RIKEN Nano Medical Engineering Laboratory examined how ocean mussels use a protein to attach to smooth surfaces and applied a combination of DNA programming and enzyme manipulation to attach a similar protein to titanium.

“We are very excited by this finding, because the modification process is a universal one that could be used with other proteins,” Dr. Yoshihiro Ito, chief scientist of the research team, wrote in a press statement. “It could allow us to prepare new cell-growth enhancing materials, with potential applications in cell culture systems and regenerative medicine. And it is particularly interesting that this is an example of biomimetics, where nature can teach us new ways to do things. The mussel has given us insights that could be used to allow us to live healthier lives.”

The research is one of the first tangible benefits of nanotechnology in medicine and represents an important step towards making fully biological materials and machines. New nanotechnology-based methods and materials could help doctors make more precise medical diagnosis, ensure better healthcare outcomes and create massive reductions in the cost of healthcare.

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