Porous silicon for medical devices
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Researchers at De Montfort University in the UK are investigating the potential of a porous form of silicon in the manufacture of medical devices, according to a report in Materials World. Porous silicon is produced by treating silicon with hydrofluoric acid. It seems to be highly biocompatible: mammalian cells can be cultured directly onto its surface, yet it appears to be devoid of any toxicity. Potential applications include "bionic" limb replacements and electrochemical sensors. The main problem to be overcome is actually producing porous silicon, currently a difficult process to control.