Superpolymers from Nalchik: Russian scientists have taken an important step towards the future of medicine

The material has already been tested on animals, and clinical trials on humans are ahead.

Scientists from Nalchik have made a scientific revolution. They have developed superpolymers. This is a material of incredible strength that does not sink in water and does not burn in fire. At the same time, it is capable of withstanding enormous loads.

But the most important thing is that the new product is absolutely universal: it can be used in dozens of areas at once — from medicine to the space industry.

Izvestia correspondent Murad Magomedov told about the new product.

Scientists in Kabardino-Balkaria have learned to produce superpolymers. It looks like an ordinary piece of plastic, but it does not break or burn. It can withstand enormous loads.

This unique material can be used in the space industry, military industry and in medicine. In these laboratories, chemists produce innovative polymers. The process is so complex that it requires special reactors that can be compared to high-tech «kitchens» for creating materials of the future.

Imagine that you are in the kitchen and preparing a dish. Here is this saucepan, where you add all the ingredients and in the end you get the necessary product,

— shared Shamil Afaunov, junior research fellow at the Center for Advanced Materials and Additive Technologies of the Kabardino-Balkarian State University.

Previously, Russian scientists could only produce biopolymers in small volumes — 5-10 grams. Now in Nalchik, these polymers are created on an industrial scale — in kilograms.

This powder is called Polyetheretherketone. In scientific language, it is a superstructural polymer. To put it simply, this material can be used to produce products that can withstand various loads, high temperatures. And most importantly, it is biocompatible, that is, it can be used to produce implants for humans.

On a 3D printer, dental implants, bone prostheses and even skull fragments can be made from this material.

This domestic 3D printer is currently printing an endoprosthesis for the fibula from the latest biocompatible material,

— said Murad Magomedov.

The human body perceives the new generation implants as its own tissues. The probability of rejection is minimal. This has already been proven by preclinical studies. This is what was eventually printed. Now patients are implanted with similar elements, but from titanium.

Unlike titanium, it is a polymer, firstly, it is 40 percent lighter. Secondly, it is very resistant to biological tissues and biological fluids of the body,

— explained the project manager, Vice-Rector for Research Work at KBSU Svetlana Khashirova.

The material has already been tested on laboratory rats. Scientists installed biopolymer fasteners on the broken paws of rodents. Three months later, the rats feel great, the bones have grown together.

Polymer patches for the skull cost tens of thousands of dollars abroad. The Russian analogue, which is no worse, and in some respects even better, will cost five times less.

The new technology is planned to be used in neurosurgery. This year, doctors will begin using the Russian biopolymer. At the first stage, 10 patients will be operated on.

We will watch, we will observe. We will observe clinical trials, delayed reactions. If the material takes root, there are no complications, then we will already use it en masse,

— said Martin Kishev, chief neurosurgeon of the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic.

Amina Vindizheva agreed to test new biomaterials on herself. For 7 years, she has been suffering from herniated discs in the spine. She was offered to implant metal pins, but the woman refused, fearing complications. Amina knows that biopolymer implants are much safer for the body.

As a chemist, I understand what processes can occur in the body at the molecular level, so there is trust,

— shared Nalchik resident Amina Vindizheva.

Scientists emphasize that this is just the beginning. Research and experiments are ongoing. In the near future, it will be possible to print biological tissues: skin, muscles, cartilage, possibly entire body parts and even internal organs.

Source: Channel Five