title: [Creation of artificial cartilage by nanotechnology].
abstract: Artificial joints are made from hard and dry materials like metal or ceramics, although these artificial joints have several problems such as bacterial infection, high surface friction and wear, lack in shock-absorption. From this viewpoint, hydrogels have a high potential as substitutes for articular cartilage, although most of them suffer from lack of mechanical strength. In our recent study, we have found hydrogels, that exhibit high fracture strength as several tens of megapascals, extremely low coefficient of friction as 10(-4), high wear resistance, and with biocompatibility. These gels might open new era of soft and wet materials as substitutes for articular cartilage and other tissues.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murosaki
authors.forename: Jian Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Yoshihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Osada
mesh_terms: D001187:Artificial Organs; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002356:Cartilage; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D020100:Hydrogels; D036103:Nanotechnology
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels