Dental Materials
MSc (J5S9)
News
QMUL scientist wins biomaterials awards
Dr Hing (right) as see recently on BBC TV's Bang Goes The Theory.
Friday 3rd May 2013
Dr Karin Hing from the School of Engineering and Materials Science has been awarded two prestigious prizes in recognition of her outstanding contributions to materials research in the field of biomaterials. The UK Society for Biomaterials, Biocompatibility Prize and the Kroll Medal from the institute of Materials, Mining and Minerals both relate to Dr Hing's research in the development of bone graft substitute materials.
• The 2013 UK Society for Biomaterials, Biocompatibles Prize recognises researchers with an industrial link to their research who have made significant contributions to the UK Biomaterials field. Dr Hing has been awarded this prize in recognition of her research into the importance of synthetic bone graft substitute porosity and chemistry and the translation of this research into clinical practice via the development of the bone graft material, Actifuse. In addition the award recognises her scientific and technical contribution to the biomaterials company, ApaTech, which produces Actifuse.
• The 2013 Kroll Medal from the IOM3 is awarded in recognition of a significant contribution that has enhanced the scientific understanding of materials chemistry as applied to the industrial production of inorganic materials. Dr Hing received the award for her development of a novel commercial processing technique to produce porous bone graft substitute materials with a biomimetic structure and control of chemistry, microstructure and porosity so as to enable in order to control the mechanical and biological performance of the biomaterial.
Biomedical Engineering - The best job in the world
X ray of a total knee replacement implant (an important area of bioengineering)
Wednesday 24th April 2013
It is now official, being a biomedical engineer is the best job in the world. The annual ranking of occupations was published on 24th April and shows that being a biomedical engineer is in the top 10 jobs, ranked as number 2 (actuary was ranked number 1). Furthermore biomedical engineering has the highest growth forcast of 62%. All this makes studying for a degree in biomedical engineering (also known as medical engineering) an excellent career choice.
Read more in the Metro newspaper: http://metro.co.uk/2013/04/23/is-being-a-newspaper-reporter-...
New BBC programme meets top engineers working who are shaping tomorrow's world.
Saturday 13th April 2013
A new BBC programme delves in to the world of invention, revealing the people and technologies set to transform all our lives. The programme "Horizon: Tomorrow's World" examines the conditions that are promising to make the 21st century a golden age of innovation and meets some of the world's foremost visionaries, mavericks and dreamers.'
Innovators include:
Peter Diamandis (Nasa): Physician / aerospace engineer who is developing the first robot to send data images from the moon to earth (google lunar X prize)
Andre Geim (Manchester): Nobel prize winner and inventor of Gratin using materials science nanotechnology. The material has the strongest properties, is highly conductive and impermeable.
Robert Langer (MIT, biomedical engineering): Had the bold vision and drive to implant materials into human tissues more than 30 yrs ago
Cesar Horada: Created a remote controlled sailing vessel to collect oil from shipping disasters. Used the internet to open source / exchange ideas, explore, attract funds and build the prototype
Nobar Afeyan (Joule, energy): Re-engineered nature by genetically modifying cyanobacteria to use sunlight and CO2 to synthesise ethanol as a novel renewable fuel
Michael Pritchard: Developed nanoscale hollow fibre membrane mesh for purifying water in 3rd World
Watch the Horizon programme on the BBC iplayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01rwgt6/Horizon_Tomorr...
Queen Mary's Bionic Man makes Big Bang
Saturday 16th March 2013
This years Big Bang Science Fair in London featured an interactive exhibit on medical implants and bioengineering run by the School of Engineering and Materials Science at Queen Mary University of London. The exhibit entitled 'Bionic Man' enabled visitors to handle over 40 different medical implants including total joint replacements, heart valves, pacemakers, stents and even a prosthetic leg. The event was a huge success with over 1500 people visiting the stand.
see newspaper write up: http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/star_turn_for_que...
The discoverer of the Piezoelectricity of Bone visits Queen Mary
Friday 15th March 2013
On March 19th Prof. Eiichi Fukada (Kobayasi Institute of Physical Research, Tokyo, Japan) visited Queen Mary University of London, upon an invitation by Dr. Carpi from the School of Engineering and Materials Science. Prof. Fukada gave a seminar entitled “Piezoelectricity in Biopolymers and Electrical Stimulation of Bone Growth”.
The piezoelectric effect consists of the electrical polarization resulting from mechanical stress applied to a material. Piezoelectric materials also display the inverse effect: mechanical deformation upon application of electric charge. More than 50 years ago, Prof. Fukada et al., found that the piezoelectric effect shows up in bone too. With his pioneering paper “On the piezoelectric effect of bone”, published in 1957, Prof. Fukada has later gained the title of ‘Discoverer of the piezoelectricity of bone’.
After the discovery of the piezoelectric effect in bone, many studies were conducted to investigate how electrical stimulation can be used to induce bone growth. As such, it was noticed that implantation of pieces of piezoelectric polymers, such as poly-L-lactic acid, arranged in contact to bone produced the formation of bone callus.The effect is thought to be due to electrical stimulation of the connective tissue, exerted by the piezoelectric polymer under cyclic stress. This has led to numerous studies trying to stimulate bone fracture healing using DC and AC electric current, electromagnetic pulses and ultrasound.
Prof. Fukada’s research on piezoelectricity has inspired generations of students and researchers to understand fundamental biophysical problems and use the results to conceive new medical devices. Indeed Prof. Fukada’s seminar was highly inspiring for many students studying Medical Engineering at Queen Mary University of London.
Anna Varone (Medical Engineering student)