Magnesium: Solutions in Medicine
They all work in the Department of Biological Characterisation: Nils Holländer, Anke Schuster, Philipp Globig und Reneé Unbehau (from left to right). Photo: Hereon/Christian Schmid
Bone screws or other implants made of magnesium possess beneficial properties: the material is elastic in a way that is similar to bone while maintaining its stability during fracture repair. What makes magnesium special is that it dissolves in the body. While other metallic screws or plates made of titanium or surgical stainless steel must often be removed, the need for a second surgery is eliminated when magnesium implants are used. The patient’s overall well-being increases and potential risk of infection is therefore reduced.
The staff of the Biological Characterisation Department are investigating the interactions between material and cells. We present the work of the department:
360°-Clip
Videos (in German language only)
Videos: Hereon/ Steffen Niemann
Further information
- Overview about metallic biomaterials Novel bone screws made of magnesium should dissolve in the body after the fracture has healed
- Screws, that dissolve Interview with Prof. Regine Willumeit-Römer, Head of the partial institute "Metallic Biomaterials"
- Biological Characterization Website of the department
- Metallic Biomaterials Website of the partial institute
Published in in2science #9 (April 2020)