Zirconia chemically transformed to provide a window to the brain
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.027319
Los Angeles Times : Engineers have combined the transparency of glass with the strength of zirconia to produce a window in the skull that would facilitate the study of the brain, the diagnosis of cancer, and the delivery of therapies. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, tested the new material by implanting it in a mouse’s head. With the use of optical coherence tomography, they compared images captured through the new zirconia pane with those produced through the animal’s cranial bone. Because bone scatters light more than glass, the new material achieved much higher-resolution images. The researchers are also working on making skin temporarily transparent. The next step is to make certain that the material is biocompatible.
