Biomedical scaffolding: Under construction

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Biomedical scaffolding

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Biomedical technology: Tiny forms of scaffolding, combining biological and synthetic elements, have a wide range of medical uses

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FIRST-TIME visitors to Asia are often surprised to see construction workers on modern buildings, even skyscrapers, climbing up flimsy-looking bamboo scaffolding. These traditional structures are not as ramshackle as they might appear. Bamboo poles are lighter, more flexible and cheaper to erect than Western-style metal scaffolding, though they are more likely to buckle in humid conditions. These days, the poles are usually secured with strong nylon straps for safety.
Researchers working with scaffolds at a far smaller scale are now exploring the use of similar hybrid structures, made using a combination of biological and synthetic elements. Three-dimensional scaffolds are often implanted or injected into the body as ...

Source: Biotechnology - March 7, 2013 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: news