A newly developed porous version of silicon may provide a link that would allow human tissues to be connected to mechanical devices. Researchers at De Montfort University, Leicester, say the material could lead to "bionic" limb replacements and electronic sensing devices.
Porous silicon was discovered when an acid electrolyte was used to electro-polish silicon. The acid left dots in the silicon and initial studies indicated that the material could be bio-compatible, according to Prof Sue Bayliss. "The ability to culture mammalian cells directly on to porous silicon, coupled with the material's apparent lack of toxicity, offers exciting possibilities for the future of biologically interfaced sensing," she said.