Engineering Commons^™

The Influence Of Processing And Additives On Cellulose Nanofiber Properties For Orthopedic Application, Mitchell P. Chesley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Current orthopedics are separated into three different classes of materials, metals, polymers, and ceramics. While these devices have had success throughout the years they are not without their faults. Metallic devices for example are usually extraordinarily stiff when compared with the surrounding bone. This difference in stiffness induces localized stress-shielding promoting cortical atrophy, which can lead to osteoporosis. Polymers while having the capacity of being biodegradable and bioabsorbable also have the potential to incite localized demineralization and weakness in surrounding bone. A result of breakdown byproducts not efficiently being evacuated from the area, which additionally acts as catalysts expediating the …