Artificial Bones Made From Surprising Materials

By Rachel Zurer

Bones: You never give them a thought until they break, crack, or crumble. When they’re beyond repair—whether from disease or accident—doctors sometimes rebuild with substitutes. At one time that meant sticking a cow femur in you and calling it fixed, but researchers are now creating artificial bones in the lab that could soon find their way into hospital operating rooms. Here are some of the surprising materials they’ve been working with.



WOOD
Researchers at Italy’s Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics started with rattan wood. They heated it, added oxygen and calcium, then applied more heat and a phosphate solution. The result after 10 days: The rattan was strong enough to stand in for bone. It’s already performing in sheep.


SEA ICE
Scientists discovered that frozen seawater mirrors the intricate, hard structure of abalone shell. They’re applying that insight by freezing a calcium sludge into porous layers, then removing the water by sublimation to create a sturdy yet lightweight calcium scaffold. The method is moving to FDA testing.


STYROFOAM
Engineers in Germany have added a new twist to the standard titanium used for implants by forming it around a matrix of polyurethane foam. Once they cook off the matrix, they’re left with a porous, lacelike web of titanium, which performs more like real, flexible bone. Manufacturing is expected to begin soon.

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/05/st_bonematerials/

SF is just barely ahead of technology. Of course, "Zero History" is only marginally SF.

/sarcasm