Prof. Fariborz Sharifian Jazi – well-renowned lecturer at the University of Georgia – had his article “Laser-based Additive Manufacturing of Magnesium Alloys for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications: From Chemistry to Clinic" published in International “Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing”. We asked him few questions about his achievement and here are the responses:

1. What impact can this research have on human life?

It’s been decades that Tissue Engineering has been the hot topic of debate. Due to the fact that specific tissues can be designed just as the way they are needed and at the same time, they can be applied easier on the desired location, so that the body tissue can continue working naturally, again. In simple words, almost each body tissue is constructed from a scaffold and the materials which exist among the free spaces of that scaffold or is part of the scaffold itself. According to this, we can create tissues for patients with specific diseases, such as tumours, accidental traumas or even burns, therefore they can carry their normal lives on. We can combine this technology with other specific technologies like Lasers to make much better scaffolds. Also the used materials should be biocompatible to reduce the risk of transplant rejection. The more we care about tissue engineering, the more lives can be rescued. In this study, we discussed about the Laser-Based Additive Manufacturing of Magnesium Alloys for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications.

2. How exactly is the research subject connected to these issues?

Despite the simple explanation of tissue engineering, constructing each part of the structure, scaffold or the materials, can be severely confusing and hard. Several technics have been designed to create each one. Among all the possible choices, we chose Laser, as the scaffold constructing tool, and magnesium alloys, as the biocompatible material. In this paper, we aimed to review the recent progress of laser-based AM for Mg alloys, survey challenges in the research and future development of Mg scaffolds for clinical applications.

3. What were the main challenges and skills involved in conducting this research?

Definitely the data collection was the hardest part of conducting this research. Using several references to obtain data had taken a lot of time from us, especially because the subject is so special and kind of new. Also we chose the graphs with a careful obsession, in case of the fact that they would be completely clear for the reader. As it can be seen from the title, this subject is multidisciplinary and various experts can study aspects of this field. Thus it was a bit hard to gather the data of this article like a comprehensible puzzle. But, in the end, the result seems outstanding.

4. How can students get involved in this field, and why should they do so?

Tissue engineering encompasses a combination of majors such as, medicine, chemistry, biochemistry, nanotechnology, biology and materials science. Accordingly, students in different fields of study can be involved in this field. On the other hand, let’s not to forget how helpful it can be in human aspect. Millions of people can survive from Incurable or hardly curable diseases. Also, tissue engineering is a window towards a better understanding of the body’s function. Students from different majors of study can have a remarkable role in this recognition. They can discover more and more of this somehow new knowledge.

5. What made you interested in researching this subject?

Taking a part in research and publishing numerous papers in the field of tissue engineering, which has a role in the promotion of treatment methods for a variety of diseases, made us to consider about writing an article over this subject and to have a closer look on how it can be optimally applied with Laser and the biocompatible particle, magnesium.

6. What feedback has this particular research received so far?

Many students from various countries announced their interest in this topic looking for collaboration opportunities in future researches over this topic. We have also been invited to participate in writing articles in some journals, conferences and book chapters related to this topic area. These provided us with new opportunities to have effective collaborations in the future.

7. What role did the University of Georgia play in your accomplishment?

I really appreciate University of Georgia because of its great support in my researches along with equipment preparation. It has helped me so much so far in the issues which needed more researches. I also received help for Equipping the laboratory and prepare the materials. The university’s cast has also helped me so much.

8. Is there anything you would like to say to our students in addition?

Tissue engineering seems like a magic. The more you know about it, the more you are interested in! My serious advice to these students is that this field is multidisciplinary, so please if you want to work on this topic, have additional studies in different fields in addition to your main field. It is definitely going to help you.