A research team from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced it has engineered a composite made mostly from cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) mixed with a bit of synthetic polymer. The researchers found the cellulose-based composite is stronger and tougher than some types of bone.
In a study published Feb.13 in the journal Cellulose, the team hit on a recipe for the CNC-based composite that they could fabricate using both 3D printing and conventional casting. They printed and cast the composite into small pieces that they used to test the material's strength and hardness. They also machined the composite into the shape of a tooth to show that the material might one day be used to make cellulose-based dental implants.
