Creating artifical bone from wood.
Italian scientists have created a new procedure to turn blocks of wood into artificial bones.
It starts with taking a block of wood and heat it up until it turns to pure carbon (in other words charcoal).
They then spray calcium over the carbon thereby creating calcium carbide. Further chemical and physical steps will convert the calcium carbide into carbonated hydroxyapatite which is then able to be implanted and used as the artificial bone.
According to the scientists, the wood-derived bone substitute will let live bones to heal faster and more securely after a break than currently available titanium and ceramic implants.
But using wood to create artifical bone is still a work in progress. Scientists are currently limited to trialing the process on sheep. Implantation in humans not yet on the cards.
Something, though, to look forward to in the future.
