Susmita Bose, Ph.D.

With over half of all commercial biomedical implants containing metal, a new study by researchers at Washington State University, the Mayo Clinic, and Stanford University Medical Center has shown the value of using 3D printing to identify new alloys that improve upon metals that have been in surgical use for decades.

As reported in Materials Today [Mitra et al. Mater. Today (2020) DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2020.11.021], 3D printing was used to assess a range of new and more effective alloys in implants – mainly used in orthopedic, dental, fracture management, spinal and cardiovascular applications. The three main alloys are currently employed in biomedical implants: stainless steel, titanium, and cobalt–chrome were originally developed by the automotive and aerospace industries for their strength, fatigue, corrosion resistance, and not for their biological performance… Continue reading.

Soy is widely studied for its estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects on the body. It has been linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer and recurrence, improved heart and bone health, as well as the reduced risk of other cancers. Now researchers at Washington State University (WSU) see the potential of soy when it comes to improving post-operative treatment of bone cancer. They demonstrated the slow release of soy-based chemical compounds from a 3D-printed bone-like scaffold resulted in a reduction in bone cancer cells while building up healthy cells and reducing harmful inflammation.

Their findings, “Controlled release of soy isoflavones from multifunctional 3D printed bone tissue engineering scaffolds,” are published in the journal Acta Biomaterialia and led by graduate student Naboneeta Sarkar and Susmita Bose, PhD, professor at WSU’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering… Continue reading.

A new drug delivery system using curcumin, the main ingredient in the spice turmeric, successfully inhibited bone cancer cells while promoting growth of healthy bone cells, according to a study by the Washington State University. The work could lead to better post-operative treatments for patients with osteosarcoma.

As young patients with bone cancer are often treated with high doses of chemotherapy before and after surgery, the study researchers wanted to develop gentler treatment options. Turmeric has been used as medicine for centuries, and its active ingredient, curcumin, has been shown to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and bone-building capabilities… Continue reading.

Susmita Bose, the Herman and Brita Lindholm Endowed Chair and Professor in Washington State University’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, has been named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.

National Academy of Inventors (NAI) fellows are academic inventors who have demonstrated a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.

“Susmita Bose’s research contributions have made her a leader in the use of technology to improve health,” said Mary Rezac, dean of WSU’s Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture… Continue reading.