Nanodiamonds and Bones
“Establishment of nanodiamond layers for human implants and ‘living bones’ based on innovative nanotechnology”
While the field of bone replacement and rejuvenation after accidents and bone-wasting diseases has vastly improved over the last 15 years, there are still problems associated with it. The company DiaLife, founded and run by Dr Doris Steinmüller-Nethl, conducts research into the use of nanodiamonds in bone repair and replacement, and the Journal of Experimental Gerontology recently printed a paper concerning some progress in the field.
Nanodiamonds, also known as hyperdiamonds and aggregated diamond nanorods, are incredibly small crystalline forms of carbon, and are even harder than conventional diamonds. Because of their small size (about 5-20 nanometers in diameter and 1 micrometer in length), they can appear to form a very smooth film, and this small hard film can have many applications, such as coating high-precision medical tools.
The DiaLife project has three main research goals concerning the application of nanodiamonds to living systems.
The first is to coat medical titanium implants, such as some dental implants, with a nanodiamond layer. Because of the properties of the nanodiamond film, the coated implants cause less inflammation, are more stable, are more compatible with the body, and are more durable. The article mentions that several types of nanodiamond dust were tried, and that there was some success attaching the nanodiamonds, which were charged, to metals and plastics.
The second research goal is to incorporate sensors into the nanodiamond film to possibly monitor how the bone was healing or the settling of the film itself. The article says that they were able to successfully attach HRP (Horse Radish Protease) to nanodiamond powder, and were able to successful incorporate the protein into cells. However, just how well it works is still mostly unknown.
The third research goal is to be able to form larger pieces of bone incorporating the biological compatibility of stem cells and nanodiamonds on a pre-made matrix, as to create a piece of bone that would not be rejected. While the potential is great, the article didn’t provide any new insights on the matter.
Being able to easily replace bone with something that the body doesn’t reject is a goal that could potentially help a lot of people, particularity with an aging population.
The article, written by Magdalena Schimke, can be found at:
Experimental Gerontology
Volume 46, Issues 2-3, February-March 2011, Page 208
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/05315565
For further information, see the following site:
What is Cryonics?
In preparation for our first club meeting, titled “Future Science History: What is Cryonics?” (event page located here), I thought it would be beneficial to point you all towards an easy-to-read primer on the subject called “Cryonics: Using low temperatures to care for the critically ill” written by Aschwin de Wolf over at depressed metabolism. In it, he discusses some of the theory behind human cryopreservation, and provides a brief overview of the current methods employed in suspension, commenting that
[t]he objection that cryonics is an attempt to resuscitate dead people reflects a misunderstanding of the rationale behind cryonics. The arguments supporting human cryopreservation are not radically different than the already established arguments behind general anesthesia and hypothermic circulatory arrest; it merely introduces lower temperatures and longer care. Therefore, the difference between contemporary medicine and cryonics is quantitative, not qualitative, in nature.
Ultimately, the objectives are the same – to save lives and alleviate suffering.
I hope to see you all at the meeting 🙂
The UBC Cryonics & Life Extension Club 