UNIVERSITY OF MALTA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
B.ENG. (HONS) COURSE
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STREAM
YEAR 1V SEMESTER 1
JANUARY, 2009 SESSIONS OF EXAMINATIONS
MME 4100 Bio- & Nano-Materials

30th January 2009

Time: 09.15am 11.15am

This paper contains FIVE questions. You are to attempt only FOUR questions.

1.

a) Austenitic stainless steel is considered as one of the primary materials used as

implants in orthopaedic applications. Mention 5 other biomaterials which are
implanted in orthopaedic applications. By sketching a femur and an inserted
implant, indicate where these materials are used.
(7 Marks)
b) The increasing popularity and the degree of orthopaedic implant component
modularity are creating more challenging conditions for biomaterials to
overcome. Give a short account indicating why this is creating problems.
(5 Marks)
c) Austenitic Stainless Steels are currently being used as biomaterials for
orthopaedic applications. Give a short essay on austenitic stainless steel that
should include the following points:
(i) Modern austenitic stainless steels used in implantation
(5 Marks)
(ii) Types of corrosion attack on austenitic stainless steels
(5 Marks)
(iii) Hardening of austenitic stainless steels
(3 Marks)

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2. a) The definition of a biomaterial given by Williams in 1987 is the following, A

biomaterial is a nonviable material used in a medical device intended to interact
with biological systems. Write two short paragraphs that outline the importance
of the words nonviable and medical in this definition.
(6 Marks)
b) Define the following:
(i) toxicity
(ii) delivered dose
(iii) exposure dose

(3 Marks)
(3 Marks)
(3 Marks)

c) List three primary cell culture assays for evaluating biocompatibility.

(3 Marks)
d) Give a procedure of how:
(i) MTT testing is performed
(ii) Cell fixing is performed

(5 Marks)
(2 Marks)

3. a) Define what is meant by the superelastic effect of NiTi Shape memory alloys.
(5 Marks)
b) Give and explain a biomedical application where the superelastic effect of
shape memory alloys can be used.
(5 Marks)
c) Define what is meant by the shape memory effect of NiTi Shape memory alloys
(i) One-way memory effect
(5 Marks)
(ii) Two-way memory effect
(5 Marks)
d) Give and explain a biomedical application in orthodontics that uses the shape
memory effect.
(5 Marks)

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4. a) The physical and chemical properties of nanostructures are distinctly

different from those of a single atom or molecule and bulk matter with the
same chemical composition. Give examples of these differences, and outline
their origins.
(10 marks)
b) Scanning probe microscopies are widely used structural tools necessary for the
characterization of nanomaterials.
With reference to AFM technology, describe:
(i) The basic principles governing its operation;
(ii) The construction of a commercial device;
(iii) The main probe construction criteria which must be satisfied by the
tip and cantilever.
(15 marks)

5. a) Nanofabrication processes can be categorized as bottom-up and top-down

techniques. Briefly describe two variants of each group and provide a value of
the resolution of such manufacturing process.
(12 marks)
b) Single-wall and multi-wall are the two main types of carbon nanotubes.
(i) Briefly describe a technique which can be used to produce SWTN or
MWNT and particularly what is the difference in the synthesis process
necessary to yield the two variants.
(ii) Discuss some of the macroscopic physical properties of carbon
nanotubes, particularly highlighting the differences between SWNTs and
MWNTs.
(13 marks)

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