R&D BREAKTHROUGHS
Biomaterial Mimics Muscle Elasticity
Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have cast artificial
proteins into a solid biomaterial that
closely mimics the elasticity of muscle. The
approach opens new avenues to creating
solid biomaterials from small engineered
proteins. The research has potential applications in material sciences.
“There are obvious long-term implica-
tions for tissue engineers,” says Hongbin
Li, Associate Professor in the Department
of Chemistry. “But at a fundamental level,
we’ve learned that the mechanical proper-
ties we engineer into the individual pro-
teins that make up this biomaterial can be
translated into useful mechanical proper-
ties at the larger scale.”
Li, Canada Research Chair in Molecular
Nanoscience and Protein Engineering, and
UBC colleague John Gosline, zoology Professor,
engineered the proteins
to mimic the molecular
structure of titin.
Titin—also known
as connectin – is a giant
protein that plays a
vital role in the passive
elasticity of muscle. The
engineered version—
which resembles a chain
of beads—is roughly 100× smaller than
titin. The resulting rubber-like biomaterial
shows high resilience at low strain and is
tough at high strain—features that make
up the elastic properties of muscles.
“A hallmark of titin-like proteins is
that they unfold under a stretching force
to dissipate energy and prevent damage
to tissues by overstretching,” says Gosline.
“We’ve been able to replicate one of
the more unique characteristics exhibited
by muscle tissues,” he adds,“but not all
of them.”
medtechinsider.com/archives/14356
The use of MRI in scientific studies has
been limited because it can’t image anything smaller than several cubic micrometers. Now scientists are combining the
3D capability of MRI with the precision
of a technique known as atomic force
microscopy. This combination enables
3D visualisation of tiny specimens such
as viruses, cells and potentially structures
inside cells — a 100-million-fold improve-
ment over MRI used in hospitals.
“It’s by far the most sensitive MRI
imaging technique that has been demonstrated,” reports Raffi Budakian, a physics Professor at the University of Illinois.
medtechinsider.com/archives/14144
Researchers Build MRI-Based Microscope
Image courtesy: Martino Poggio, University of Basel
Metamaterial Holds
Key to Controlling
THz Radiation
Led by Boston University’s Richard
Averitt, a research team has announced the
development of a new way to detect and
control terahertz (THz) radiation using
optics and materials science. This type of
radiation is made up of electromagnetic
waves that can pass through solid materials
without damaging them. The breakthrough
may enable scientists to peer through clothing, walls and human skin, and may pave
the way for the improved safety of medical
and security scanners, new communication
devices and more sensitive chemical detectors. The research was discussed at the
Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/
Quantum Electronics and Laser Science
Conference, which took place 16 to 21
May in San Jose, California, USA.
medtechinsider.com/archives/14413
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