Webster T.J. – TechConnect Briefs

Cardiomyocyte Function on Poly-Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid: Carbon Nanofiber Composites under Electrical Stimulation

Stout D.A., Webster T.J., Brown Univeristy, US

In recent research, it was demonstrated that the use of nano-materials can promote the growth of cardiomyocytes when compared to the use of conventional or micro-structured materials. One such nano-material consisted of poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) [...]

Novel Resorbable Drug-Carrying Nano-Scaffolds for Treating Bone Diseases at Targeted Sites

Liu H., Webster T.J., Brown University, US

Pharmaceutical agents are often required to stimulate new bone formation for the treatment of bone injuries or diseases (such as osteoporosis and osteosarcoma). However, there are several problems associated with current drug delivery methods. First, [...]

Investigating Helical Rosette Nanotubes and Nanocrystalline Hydroxyapatite as Novel Bone-like Biomaterials for Orthopedic Applications

Zhang L.J., Rodriguez J., Fenniri H., Webster T.J., Brown University, US

The objective of this study was to create a novel biomimetic hydrogel composite based on helical rosette nanotubes (HRNs) and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HA). HRNs are newly-developed self-assembled nanomaterials with DNA base pair building blocks. HRNs [...]

Favored Osteoblast Interactions with Aerosol Printed 3D Nano-to-Macro Hierarchical Architectures: The Promise of Nanocomposites as Orthopedic Prostheses

Liu H., Webster T.J., Brown University, US

Ceramic/polymer nanocomposites simulate bone in terms of its nanostructure and associated properties, thus, offering a promising new opportunity for bone regeneration in a natural way. Previous in vitro studies demonstrated that well-dispersed nanophase titania in [...]

Nano-Structured Biodegradable Ceramics for the Treatment of Osteoporosis

Balasundaram G., Webster T.J., Purdue University, US

There are a number of applications requiring bone-building agents. For example, osteoporosis is a disease resulting in weak bone. However, no current effective prevention and treatment methods exist for osteoporosis. For these reasons, in this [...]

Stem cell differentiation on nano-structured carbon surfaces

Ercan B., Price R., Webster T.J., Purdue University, US

The research is based on the differentiation of stem cells on carbonnanofibers.

Increased Osteoblast Adhesion on Nano-rough Anodized Titanium and CoCrMo

Yao C., Slamovicha E.B., Webster T.J., Purdue University, US

Titanium and cobalt-based alloys are two main groups of metallic materials widely used in orthopedic applications. One approach to improve biological properties of current titanium and CoCrMo implant is to mimic the nanostructures of natural [...]

Less Harmful Acidic Degradation of Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds through Titania Nanoparticle Addition

Liu H., Slamovich E.B., Webster T.J., Purdue University, US

In the last ten years, biodegradable aliphatic polyesters, such as poly(lactide-co-glycolide) acid (PLGA), have attracted increasing attention for their use as scaffold materials in bone tissue engineering because their degradation products can be removed by [...]

Nano-structured Biodegradable Ceramics for the Prevention and Treatment of Bone Caner

Balasundaram G., Webster T.J., Purdue University, US

For people dying of some cancers such as breast and prostate, the spread of bone cancer is almost universal. Although current drug delivery systems have found a variety of uses in targeting certain forms of [...]