Carbon nanotubes for orthopaedic implants

The physical and biological limitations of current orthopaedic implant materials are a major challenge for bone tissue engineering. Nanotechnology has introduced new materials and methods for meeting this challenge. The application of nanotechnology to engineering new bone substitutes finds a model in the nanoscale components of natural bone tissue. Carbon nanotubes are a macromolecular form of carbon with exceptional properties and similar morphology and dimensions to the nanoscale collagen fibers of natural bone tissue. Carbon nanotubes have been used in two main areas of bone tissue engineering: for structural and electrical enhancement of polymer and ceramic composites and for nanostructured coatings to improve the bioactivity of implant surfaces. By incorporating carbon nanotubes into the design and engineering of bone tissue substitutes, researchers have attempted to overcome limitations in the structural and biological compatibility of traditional orthopaedic implant materials.