Progress in Nanostructured Mechano-Bactericidal Polymeric Surfaces for Biomedical Applications.

Bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance remain significant contributors to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite recent advances in biomedical research, a substantial number of medical devices and implants continue to be plagued by bacterial colonisation, resulting in severe consequences, including fatalities. The development of nanostructured surfaces with mechano-bactericidal properties has emerged as a promising solution to this problem.

Multifunctional nacre-like materials.

Nacre, the iridescent inner layer of seashells, displays an exceptional combination of strength and toughness due to its 'brick-wall' architecture. Significant research has been devoted to replicating nacre's architecture and its associated deformation and failure mechanisms. Using the resulting materials in applications necessitates adding functionalities such as self-healing, force sensing, bioactivity, heat conductivity and resistance, transparency, and electromagnetic interference shielding.

A multiphysics-based artificial neural networks model for atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a medical condition involving the hardening and/or thickening of arteries' walls. Mathematical multi-physics models have been developed to predict the development of atherosclerosis under different conditions. However, these models are typically computationally expensive.

Discovering an unknown territory using atom probe tomography: Elemental exchange at the bioceramic scaffold/bone tissue interface.

Here we report the first atom probe study to reveal the atomic-scale composition of in vivo bone formed in a bioceramic scaffold (strontium-hardystonite-gahnite) after 12-month implantation in a large bone defect in sheep tibia. The composition of the newly formed bone tissue differs to that of mature cortical bone tissue, and elements from the degrading bioceramic implant, particularly aluminium (Al), are present in both the newly formed bone and in the original mature cortical bone tissue at the perimeter of the bioceramic implant. Atom probe tomography confirmed that the trace elements are released from the bioceramic and are actively transported into the newly formed bone.