A new word in joint prosthetics
Implantable sensors will help fight infections
Alexander Berezin, Compulenta
Keat Ghee Ong from Michigan Technological University (USA) is developing biomedical sensors that can not only inform doctors after surgery whether the wound is healing normally (and without requiring power supply!), but also fight infections.
Mr. Ong's sensors are designed to be integrated into implants – for example, an artificial knee. The inventor is interested in creating artificial coatings on a magnetoelastic basis for such implantable devices.
Sepsis in the area of the artificial knee has become almost a common place.
Will the new coating help to end the problem?
(Wikimedia Commons illustrations)
Such materials change their magnetic properties under pressure. Consequently, if certain nodes of the prosthesis are subjected to frequent excessive or, on the contrary, too small loads, the magnetic state of the coating will give this problem to doctors with a head.
It is equally important that the coating vibrates in a strong magnetic field. Because of this, the bacteria covering the implanted nodes and devices cannot stay on the surface and begin the formation of biofilm there. Even if the bacterium has "dug" into the surface and nothing can shake it off, its reproduction slows down under this influence, which may encourage the bacterium to search for another place to live.
In addition, vibration can interfere with the fixation of scar tissue on the implant surface – one of the main problems after such operations. Usually scar tissue significantly limits the mobility and time of effective operation of any foreign body.
The effect of magnetoelastic implant surfaces on bacteria and cells of a living organism has so far been tested only on mice. And all the experiments, according to the researcher, are consistent with the plan. The next step is to work with implants for humans.
The research report is published in the Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine (Vlaisavljevich et al., Magnetoelastic vibrational biomaterials for real-time monitoring and modulation of the host response).
Prepared based on the materials of the Michigan Technological University:
On the Horizon: Implants with Built-in Sensors that Can Shake off Infection?Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru