Re: Nanotubes for Skeletal Reinforcement?


Currently researchers are doing work on a polymer "scaffold" that
allows bone to grow around and through it, and my orthopedist has used
titanium rods to reinforce a football player's tibia so that he could
get past his stress fracture problem...so the idea you propose isn't
without merit.

The thing we must consider is the effect of nanotubes on the human
body. If they can be engineered in such a way that none of them float
to other areas of the body, possibly causing damage, then a person
could have ridiculously strong bones. The soft tissues would still be
soft, though...so I wouldn't suggest taking your nano legs out and
jumping off a building for kicks and giggles. The soles of your feet
would be somewhat bruised.

S


On 2005-07-08 10:32:25 -0500, manofsan@xxxxxxxxx said:


I've posted about this idea before, and some people were even able to
> quote Sci Fi novel titles to me. But here's some work being done in
> real life, which could possibly lead to repair or reinforcement of
> skeletal bones:
>
> http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=10437
>
> <whistles the 6Million$Man tune>
>
> So is there any chance of nanotubes and stem cells being used together,
> to grow unnaturally strong skeletal bones?
>
> And what about muscle fibers? Nanotubes exposed to ionic charge
> injection can quantum mechanically contract with far greater work cycle
> efficiency than natural muscle fibers can. If bone tissue has an
> affinity to nanotubes, do muscle fibers have any similarly useful
> affinity for them?
>
> Could we see nanotubes used to enhance and improve the entire
> skeleto-muscular system?
>

.

Relevant Pages

  • Nanotubes for Skeletal Reinforcement?
    ... So is there any chance of nanotubes and stem cells being used together, ... to grow unnaturally strong skeletal bones? ... efficiency than natural muscle fibers can. ... affinity to nanotubes, do muscle fibers have any similarly useful ...
    (sci.bio.technology)
  • Nanotubes for Skeletal Reinforcement?
    ... So is there any chance of nanotubes and stem cells being used together, ... to grow unnaturally strong skeletal bones? ... efficiency than natural muscle fibers can. ... affinity to nanotubes, do muscle fibers have any similarly useful ...
    (sci.nanotech)