Nanotechnology for biomedical implants

1. A biomedical implant nanocomposite comprising:

a matrix;

nanofillers comprising one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, barium, bismuth, calcium, cerium, copper, dysprosium, europium, gadolinium, hafnium, indium, lanthanum, magnesium, neodymium, niobium, prascodymium, silver, strontium, tantalum, tin, tungsten, ytterbium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium;

wherein the nanofillers comprise an oxide ceramic or a hydroxide;

wherein the nanofillers comprise a domain size less than 50 nanometers and are mixed into the matrix at a loading of less than 80 volume percent;

wherein the mixed nanofillers and matrix are formed into a solid nanocomposite biomedical implant;

wherein the solid nanocomposite biomedical implant exhibits a wear resistance that differs by more than 20% as compared with the wear resistance exhibited by a composite comprising micron scale filler of a composition substantially same as the nanofiller, and

wherein the nanofillers comprise a surface consisting of a thin layer of a phase that is compatible with the matrix composition.

2. The biomedical implant if claim 1 wherein the matrix is a polymer.

3. The biomedical implant of claim 1 wherein the matrix is a metal.

4. The biomedical implant of claim 1 wherein the matrix is a ceramic.

5. The biomedical implant of claim 1 wherein the nanofillers comprise a surface wherein a precursor has been reacted with the surface of the nanofillers.

6. The biomedical implant of claim 1 wherein the nanofillers comprise powders with an aspect ratio greater than one.

7. The biomedical implant of claim 1 wherein the mixing is heterogeneous to form a solid nanocomposite that exhibits property gradient.

8. A biomedical implant comprising:

a matrix;

nanofillers comprising two or more elements selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, barium, bismuth, calcium, cerium, cesium, cobalt, copper, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, gallium, gold, hafnium, indium, iridium, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, manganese, mendelevium, mercury, molybdenum, neodymium, neptunium, nickel, niobium, osmium, palladium, platinum, potassium, praseodymium, promethium, protactinium, rhenium, rubidium, scandium, silver, sodium, strontium, tantalum, terbium, thallium, thorium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, zinc and zirconium;

wherein the nanofillers comprise an oxide ceramic or a hydroxide;

wherein the nanofillers comprise a domain size less than 50 nanometers and are mixed into the matrix at a loading of less than 80 volume percent;

wherein the mixed nanofillers and matrix are formed into a solid nanocomposite biomedical implant;

wherein the solid nanocomposite biomedical implant exhibits a wear resistance that differs by more than 20% as compared with the wear resistance exhibited by a composite implant comprising of micron scale filler of a composition substantially same as the nanofiller, and

wherein the nanofillers comprise a surface consisting of a thin layer or a phase that is compatible with the matrix composition.

9. The biomedical implant of claim 8 wherein the matrix is a polymer.

10. The biomedical implant of claim 8 wherein the matrix is a metal.

11. The biomedical implant of claim 8 wherein the matrix is a ceramic.

12. The biomedical implant if claim 8 wherein the nanofillers comprise a surface wherein a precursor has been reacted with the surface of the nanofillers.

13. The biomedical implant of claim 8 wherein the nanofillers comprise powders with an aspect ratio greater than one.

14. The biomedical implant of claim 8 wherein the mixing is heterogeneous to form a solid nanocomposite that exhibits property gradient.

15. A biomedical implant comprising:

a matrix;

coated nanofillers comprising one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, barium, bismuth, calcium, cerium, cesium, cobalt, copper, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, gallium, gold, hafnium, indium, iridium, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, manganese, mendelevium, mercury, molybdenum, neodymium, neptunium, nickel, niobium, osmium, palladium, platinum, potassium, praseodymium, promethium, protactinium, rhenium, rubidium, scandium, silver, sodium, strontium, tantalum, terbium, thallium, thorium, tin, titanium, lungsten, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, zinc and zirconium;

wherein the nanofillers comprise an oxide ceramic or a hydroxide;

wherein the coated nanofillers comprise a domain size less than 50 nanometers and are mixed into the matrix at a loading of less than 80 volume percent;

wherein the mixed coated nanofillers and matrix are formed into a solid nanocomposite biomedical implant; and

wherein the solid nanocomposite biomedical implant exhibits a wear resistance that differs by more than 20% as compared with the wear resistance exhibited by a composite implant comprising of micron scale filler of a composition substantially same as the nanofiller.

16. The biomedical implant of claim 15 wherein the matrix is a polymer.

17. The biomedical implant of claim 15 wherein the matrix is a metal.

18. The biomedical implant of claim 15 wherein the matrix is a ceramic.

19. The biomedical implant of claim 15 wherein the nanofillers comprise a surface consisting of a thin layer of a phase that is compatible with the matrix composition.

20. The biomedical implant of claim 15 wherein the nanofillers comprise a surface wherein a precursor has been reacted with the surface of the nanofillers.

21. The biomedical implant of claim 15 wherein the nanofillers comprise powders with an aspect ratio greater than one.

22. The biomedical implant of claim 15 wherein the mixing is heterogeneous to form a solid nanocomposite that exhibits property gradient.

23. A biomedical implant of claim 15 wherein the nanaofillers comprise a marker, genetic material, culture material, vehicle for drug delivery or a vehicle to deliver a biologically active species.