I-Micronews - NANOMATERIALS : Nanotubes that heal: Engineering better orthopedic implants...

I-Micronews - NANOMATERIALS : Nanotubes that heal: Engineering better orthopedic implants...: "Titanium and its alloys have a leg up on all other materials used to make the orthopedic implants used by surgeons to repair damaged bones and joints. They are light, super-strong, and virtually inert inside the body. But whether the implants are destined for your knee, your hip, your spine or your jaw, the silvery metal has one big drawback."Titanium has a mirror surface,” says Tolou Shokufar, a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering–engineering mechanics. Cells don’t adhere to it very well, so implants are often roughened up before they are placed in the body.A good way to roughen titanium is to etch nanotubes into it, since they provide a superb surface for bone cells to grasp onto as part of the healing process."