Use of electricity to grow artificial bones

During her tenure at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Bizios found a way of using electricity to grow artificial bones and make them deposit proteins and calcium. She did this by using carbon nanotubes-tubular molecules as electrical conductors to deliver electricity to bone-forming rat cells deposited on a piece of polymer. Bizios is further recognized for making seminal contributions to the understanding of cell-material interactions, protein/cell interactions with nanostructured materials, & for identifying pressure/electric-current effects on cell functions related to neotissue formation.

Alternating electric current directs, enhances, & accelerates mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into either osteoblasts or chondrocytes but not adipocytes; Nanostructured ceramics & composite materials for orthopaedic-dental implants; Adsorption of proteins on conducting surfaces upon application of external potential; Resorbable laminated repair film & method of using same; Peptides for altering osteoblast adhesion

Category:
Engineering - Biomedical

Completion Status:
yes

Patent Number:
8945894; 6270347; 11819592; 7417174; 6262017

Co-Inventor:
Courtney M. Creecy; Thomas J. Webster; Richard W. Siegel; Carlos D. Garcia; Thomas E. Benavidez; Wesley L. Hicks Jr; Frank V. Bright; Joseph A. Gardella; Robert Hard; Jamson S. Lwebuga-Mukasa; Alexander N. Cartwright; Bahattin Koc; Kay C. Dee; Thomas T. Andersen