Nanoindenters : How Do They Work?

Nanoindentation Testing is part of the surface sciences and known for being integral to biological materials classification. With very real application in biomedical research, nanoindentation is an important advancement in the biomedical engineering sciences, and the usage of nanoindentation has ensured that truly innovative materials have been created in order to replace human tissue.

But how exactly can a nanoindenter develop new tissues? Nanoindentation is the process of testing factors in materials such as lifespan, resistance to inflammations and bacteria, biocompatibility and of course the mechanical properties of a material.

Doing so requires the application of nanoindentation and a nanoindenter to properly examine the mechanical properties of these materials and compare them to human tissue. This is done at a molecular level through nanoindentation. A nanoindenter is an astonishingly complex piece of kit on the inside, able to percept the activity of cells in infected tissues. Yet what exactly is different about an infected cell compared to a healthy one? A number of things, really –  but typically an infected cell will be much stiffer than a healthy cell. This feature is what can be detected with the usage of a nanoindenter.

The problem of creating a suitable replacement for human tissue is a daunting one. Classed as a complex class of materials, human tissue tends to be much softer than most things, yet human tissue has an elasticity which is normally unassociated with its other features.

Compared to commonly tested materials, human tissue is characteristic of having complicated structures of cells, which make up each of human tissues’ characteristic features. By examining these features closely with the usage of nanoindentation techniques, scientists can learn more about human tissue in order to create a viable replacement.

Human tissue is but one of many challenges which can be solved with nanoindentation techniques. There are a wealth of materials that mankind seeks to create, but even with that considered, there is  possibly nothing more complex than what is around us in the natural world.

The challenge of finding a suitable replacement for human tissue is not without its pitfalls, but with the usage of nanoindentation techniques, advancements in the field are frequent and with research, viable replacements are on the horizon.