ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 7 respond to various hazards in the field.” illinois.edu. FIGHTING INFECTION WITH 3D-PRINTED METALS Scientists at Washington State University developed a novel surgical implant that remains strong and compatible with surrounding tissue, like current implants, while killing 87% of the bacteria that cause staph infections. The work could lead to better infection control in many common surgeries, such as hip and knee replacements, that are performed daily around the world. Bacterial colonization of the implants is one of the leading causes of their failure and bad outcomes after surgery. “Infection is a problem for which we do not have a solution,” says researcher Amit Bandyopadhyay. “In most cases, the implant has no defensive power from the infection. We need to find something where the device material itself offers some inherent resistance—more than just providing drugbased infection control.” Titanium materials used for hip and knee replacements and other surgical implants were developed more than 50 years ago and are not well suited to overcoming infections. Using 3D-printing technology, the researchers added 10% tantalum, a corrosion-resistant metal, and 3% copper to the titanium alloy typically used in implants. When bacteria encounter the material’s copper surface, almost all of their cell walls rupture. Meanwhile, tantalum encourages healthy cell growth in surrounding bone and tissue, leading to expedited healing for the patient. The researchers spent three years on a comprehensive study of their implant, assessing its mechanical properties, biology, and antibacterial response both in the lab and in animal models. The researchers hope to improve the bacterial death rate to the standard of more than 99% without compromising tissue integration. They also want to ensure the materials offer good performance under real-world loading conditions, such as hiking in the case of a knee replacement. wsu.edu. WSU researchers tested the new 3D-printed material’s resistance to fatigue. Courtesy of WSU Photo Services. Are you maximizing your ASM membership? Expand your knowledge and apply your ASM International member-only discounts to a variety of professional development resources: • Reference Materials • ASM Handbooks Online • Technical Journals • Continuing Education Courses Learn more about your membership benefits by visiting: asminternational.org/membership • Extraordinarily high shear and peel strength •Room temperature curing • Superior electrical insulation properties • Optically clear Adhesive for High Performance Structural Bonding www.masterbond.com Hackensack, NJ 07601 USA +1.201.343.8983 • main@masterbond.com Epoxy EP31 1016LK_3.25x4.875_EP31.indd 1 12/7/11 10:06 PM
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