Materials/​Biomaterials

Customizable Spun-Fiber Heart Valve Grows with Children

Heart valves can be surgically replaced, but children whose bodies are still growing may need multiple, highly invasive surgeries to replace their valves with larger ones, putting them at risk. Kevin Kit Parker’s team vowed to fix this problem.

Wood-Derived Electronic-Skin Substrates

Researchers have designed wood-derived electronic-skin substrates for electrophysiological monitoring that are functional, sustainable, and comfortable.

Biodegradable Polymer for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis

Engineers have developed a biodegradable polymer system to treat rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, by working in concert with the power of the human immune system.

Hydrogels as a Drug-Delivery Medium

Hydrogels are a proven material used within the wound care industry. They are valued for their cooling, soothing, healing properties, and absorptive characteristics. Outside of the field of wound care, the applications of hydrogels have been expanded into the drug-delivery space.

A Plant-Based Gel That Saves Lives

A hemostatic gel technology that rapidly controls bleeding could transform wound care.

Manufacturing Considerations for Implantable Drug-Delivery Systems

With all the benefits implantable systems offer therapy developers, clinicians, and patients, it is easy to see why market projections for this segment are on the rise.

Bioactive Glass Delivers Antimicrobial Wound Protection

When impregnated into bioactive glass, silver retains antimicrobial activity longer. Researchers have shown for the first time how this promising combination delivers more long-lasting...

Polymer Patch Warns of Danger

To ensure that wounds remain tightly sealed in the abdomen after surgery, researchers have developed a patch with a sensor function. The polymer patch warns before the occurrence of dangerous leaks on sutures...

Stretchable Knee Wearable Offers Insight into Improving e-Textiles for Healthcare

Researchers have developed a fully knitted, circuit-embedded knee wearable for wireless sensing of joint motion in real time. Compared to other knitted electronics, this model has fewer externally integrated components and a more sensitive sensor, making it less error prone.

Bending Implantables Enables Infectious Organisms to Take Hold

A study from University of Toronto Engineering researchers shows that mechanical deformation of medically implantable materials — such as bending or twisting — can have a...

Soft Ionotronics Improves Wearable, Implantable Biomedical Devices

Using 3D printing and hydrogel technology, researchers are moving closer to being able to create devices that better match the human body than the electronic devices...

Summer 2023 Resource Guide

In our summer edition of the MDB Resource Guide, learn about new cleaning requirements and find the right company to match your medical-design needs.

Videos of the Month

See the videos of the month, including one about a materials science approach to revealing clues of breast cancer, one on Rice University technology that would give patients one shot and they’d be set for the next couple of months, and more.

Programmable Smart Fabric Responds to Temperature and Electricity

A new smart material developed by researchers at the University of Waterloo is activated by both heat and electricity, making it the first ever to respond to two different stimuli.

Graphene ‘Tattoo’ Treats Cardiac Arrhythmia with Light

Researchers have developed the first cardiac implant made from graphene, a two-dimensional super material with ultra-strong, lightweight and conductive properties.

Product of The Month

See the product of the month: A line of thin cold-rolled titanium in a variety of commercially pure grades and alloys for medical devices, available from Arnold Magnetic Technologies.

3D Printed Insoles Measure Sole Pressure Directly in Shoe

Researchers are developing a 3D-printed insole with integrated sensors that allows the pressure of the sole to be measured in the shoe and thus during any activity. This helps athletes or patients to determine performance and therapy progress.

New Products & Services

See the New Products and Services, including medical optics, healthcare polymers, a ventilator pressure sensor, and more.

Silk Confirmed as Promising Material for Repair of Injured Nerves

A research team has used silk as a promising material for repairing severed nerves. In their experiments with silk from silkworms and spiders, the scientists also gained new...

3D Printing with Bacteria-Loaded Ink Produces Bone-Like Composites

Researchers have pioneered a 3D printable ink that contains Sporosarcina pasteurii: a bacterium that, when exposed to a urea-containing solution, triggers a mineralization...

Evaluating Ultrasonic Welding of Medical Plastics: Part 2

A previous article described the theoretical framework for USW of thermoplastics. This article presents the key parameters and materials influencing an ultrasonic welding process, so that USW can be accomplished successfully.

An Ultrasoft Material for On-Skin Health Devices

Researchers have created an ultrasoft skin-like material that’s both breathable and stretchable for use in the development of an on-skin, wearable bioelectronic device.

Powering Wearable Technology with MXene Textile Supercapacitor ‘Patch’

Researchers at Drexel University are one step closer to making wearable textile technology a reality.

‘Shape-Shifting’ Implanted Device to Provide Continuous BP Monitoring

SMARTSHAPE consortium, led from University of Galway, will develop an implantable medical device for continuous blood pressure monitoring. The consortium has...

Biomaterial Heals Tissues from the Inside Out

A new biomaterial that can be injected intravenously, reduces inflammation in tissue and promotes cell and tissue repair. The injectable biomaterial was tested and proven effective in treating...

Polymer-Based Prefillable Syringes Drive Down Costs

Cutting-edge prefillable syringe system products provide new solutions to customers in the healthcare and pharmaceutical market. Sharps Technology is advancing its product strategy with a...

High-Power Electrostatic Actuators to Realize Artificial Muscles

It may be possible to use electrostatic actuators in artificial muscles thanks to research that made use of ferroelectric materials to create an electrostatic actuator that can generate a strong force at a low driving voltage.

High-Performance Crosslinkable Thermoplastic Elastomers for Medical Applications

A family of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) crosslinked by irradiation improve thermomechanical properties and chemical resistance at elevated temperatures.

Product Launch: Honeywell Introduces New Ultra-Fine Medical-Grade Fiber for Cardio, Ortho

Honeywell announced the addition of a new ultra-fine denier fiber to its Spectra® Medical Grade (MG) BIO fiber portfolio at MD&M West. Now...