Iranian Scientists Study Effective Factors in Properties of Hybrid Systems
“In this project, first, starch granules were processed by different softeners under special conditions, and the processable material of thermoplastic starch was obtained,” said Zeinab Javidi, a PhD graduate of Amirkabir University of Technology and the manager of the project.
“Then, in order to improve the desired properties, the material was alloyed with poly-caprolactone, and nanoparticles were also used to improve the desired properties. Finally, the desired nanostructure and properties, including electrical properties and shape memory were studied,” she added.
Noting that the remarkable thing in this project is the shape memory property of this system that can be stimulated by moisture, and therefore, this material can be placed as a stent in the human body with limited surgery, Javidi said, “Stimulated by the moisture of the body, it can change into the desired shape and decomposed after the desired time without the need to remove the piece from the body and re-surgery.”
“The result of this project can be used in production of medical equipment and the food packaging industry,” she added.
In a relevant development in August, a team of Iranian researchers from different Tehran-based universities had designed and developed silicon stents, also called stent grafts.
In an inter-university project, researchers from Tehran University's Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences succeeded in designing, manufacturing and clinically testing a silicone lung stent for the first time in the country.
Fabric stents, also called stent grafts, are used in larger arteries such as the aorta. Stents used in the airways of the lungs are often made of silicone.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, in order to tackle the patients' problems, meetings were held with the doctors from University of Tehran's Medical Sciences and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Due to potential of the UT Mechanical Engineering Faculty, making silicone stents was prioritized in a research for our research group,” Mostafa Baghani, professor at UT Mechanical Engineering Faculty told Iranian media.
“Among the side effects of intubation in the acute stages of treatment of Covid-19 disease is damage to the patient’s respiratory tract. This injury can lead to clogging or obstruction of the airway and make it difficult for the patient to breathe. One of the ways to manage airway damage and inflammation is the use of silicone stents. These stents are in the form of flexible tubes that keep the patient's airway open and thus help patients breathe,” the professor said.
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