2nd Prize
Title: Corals can grow on Titanium: What a Surprise!
Author: ChangXiang Wang and Min Wang
Affiliation: NTU/MPE
Description: It is generally thought that metallic materials are non-bioactive and hence cannot form a secure bond between metal implants and host tissues after their implantation in the body. Recent research has found that after certain treatments, some metals can become bioactive by forming a bone-like apatite layer on their surfaces. In the present investigation, pure titanium, which is a common implant material, was firstly treated in a NaOH solution and then immersed at 36.50C in a simulation body fluid. After several days' immersion, bone-like apatite was found formed on the metal surface. The morphology of bone-like apatite resembles that of corals grown in deep seas.