Hip Implant Coatings - The Marvel Nano Coat!!!

Implants and replacements used in hip replacement surgeries are made of titanium. This metal for replacements has the advantage of being sturdy, light and resistant to wear and tear. The associated drawback is that it is identified by body tissue as unnatural and very often rejected. This may evoke an inflammatory immune response, leading to loosening of the implants and painful movements at the hips. The activity related stress friction also significantly contributes to this tissue reaction. Hip implant coatings were devised as a way out of this problem, by coating titanium with a tissue-friendly compound. The hip implant coating acts as an interface between living and nonliving surfaces, therefore improving the stability of the implant or replacement.

The application of Nanotechnology in hip implant coatings is based on the scientific principle that bone cells adhere to a surface having the same scale as body tissue. The surfaces that do not match the scale are considered by the body as unnatural or foreign. Bone cells grow into the surface matching their scale measurements. This formed surface around the implant prevents it from immune reactions. The protective implant coating consists of rod-like nanotubes made from self-assembled rings of DNA. Guanine and cytosine, the major components of nanotubes are also the building blocks of genes contained in the body tissue.

Hip replacements with nanotube-coated implants provide a natural surface for the bone cell to grow in. Unlike ceramics, which also possess the property to attract bone cells, nanotubes can be synthesized in large quantity. The replacement nanotechnology is comparatively new, therefore data regarding long term risks are yet to be obtained.

Also see; minimally invasive hip surgery.

About The Author:

Dr. Bharat Sharma is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.hip-replacement-care.com. He has been working in the medical rehab field for more than a decade. Keeping up to date with techological advancements he has become a self appointed expert.