Link: Technology Review: Smart Materials Could Help Engineer a New Liver.
Researchers at MIT have developed a method of using electrostatic assembly to develop multilayer coatings that can deliver a wide range of substances in a controlled manner. Electrostatic assembly involves the deposition of successive layers of positively and negatively charged particles or polymers, that break down in a controlled fashion. The team lead by Kris Wood has learned how to incorporate polymers, metal particles. nanostructures and drugs into the correct layers, using heat to 'fix' the active components. Since no harsh chemicals or high heat is required, proteins and genetic material could be incorporated in the same way.
Applications include coatings for implants that sequentially release antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and growth factors. Coatings could also be used in tissue engineering to express specific properties over time.
Commentary:
Although the article does not suggest that biology was the inspiration for the technique, the process is very different from the 'heat, beat and treat' methods that we traditionally use in manufacturing. The approach also increases the structure of information content of the coatings, another similarity with biology.
Comments