Nanoresin instead of living tissue
When developing products for medical use, there is a great demand for new natural materials that are best for integration with the human body. The introduction of artificial materials is associated with many risks, in particular, with serious infections. In addition, it is important that they are safe.
Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have created a new material with a unique set of properties that can serve as a replacement for human tissue in medical procedures. Inspired by biological design principles, they created a dense ordered mesoporous elastomer by self-assembly of non-cytotoxic polymerizable amphiphilic three-block polymers and hydrophobic polymers. It is cross-linked by covalent bonds and physical hydrophobic interactions, which are ordered at the nanoscale, forming a hexagonal arrangement of nanofibers.
Source: article in ACS Nano.
Contrary to the researchers' plans, the new material turned out to be unsuitable for replacing bone tissue: it was very soft, flexible and elastic.
The results showed that the new elastomer can be used in cases where an unusual combination of properties is required – high elasticity, ease of processing and biocompatibility.
The new material may be suitable for various medical applications. For example, a 3D-printed "nose" shows how the material can act as a possible replacement for cartilage. Source: Chalmers University of Technology press release.
The first application of the new material that the authors investigated is urinary catheters. The surface can be designed in such a way as to prevent the growth of bacteria.
The structure of the new nanoresin makes it possible to treat its surface in such a way as to give it antibacterial properties in a natural and safe way: by applying antimicrobial peptides, which are part of the innate human immune system. This reduces the need for antibiotics – an important property in light of the fight against growing resistance to them.
Softness and flexibility make it possible to inject medical products made of new material into the body through small incisions using special injectors resembling syringes. Inside the body, they spread out and take a given shape. This will avoid large-scale traumatic operations.
Products made of the new elastomer can be printed on a three-dimensional printer.
Another advantage is the presence of three-dimensionally ordered nanopores, which can be filled with drugs for a variety of therapeutic purposes, for example, improving healing and reducing inflammation. This allows for local treatment, avoiding the side effects of systemic therapy.
There are many diseases in which the cartilage is destroyed and there is friction between the bones, causing severe pain to the patient. The new material can replace the cartilage in these cases.
Since the new material is non-toxic, it will also be useful in plastic surgery as a filler for changing the contours of the face.
The invention is patented.
Article by A.K.Rajasekharan et al. Tough Ordered Mesoporous Elastomeric Biomaterials Formed at Ambient Conditions is published in the journal ACS Nano.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on Chalmers University of Technology: Nanostructured rubber-like material with optimal properties could replace human tissue.