From Bridges to Bones: How Engineering Can Help Us Heal Faster
When Mingxin Ye's father suffered from bone issues, his long recovery sparked an idea in the civil engineer. Mingxin realized that engineering could be used to improve the way people recover from injuries and make them heal faster.
This idea led Mingxin to switch from civil to biomedical engineering for his PhD at the University of Western Australia. While civil engineering focuses on large-scale structures like bridges and buildings, biomedical engineering deals with smaller-scale materials and the human body.
"The skill is different, but the principles behind them are the same," Mingxin says. "When we're looking at material science, we're making stuff on a smaller scale."
STRENGTHENING BONES
Mingxin's research is investigating how to strengthen implants that are attached to broken bones to help them heal. This could result in longer-lasting implants, potentially minimizing bone weakening or reduced bone density.
"Carbon fibre can solve some problems associated with metal implants, but there’s still a durability issue with a carbon fibre implant," Mingxin says. "This is what my research is trying to address. We’re trying to make [the implant] stronger so it will last much longer in a human body when a bone is healing."
HARDER, BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER
As part of his laboratory trials, Mingxin is testing the use of Kevlar for the implants, a material renowned for its strength. Kevlar fibres are traditionally used in bulletproof vests, making them very impact resistant and able to absorb energy.
"If you have a composite with these bulletproof fibres, it’s going to make the structure a lot stronger and result in a 20% increase in strength," Mingxin says. "Broken bones are the most common type of injury presented to emergency departments in Australia, with more than 407,000 fractures reported in 2024/25 alone."
Mingxin says his research could have the potential to both speed up the healing process and reduce the need for additional surgeries. "I’m really interested in designing materials that can help people heal better and avoid complications and improve people’s health outcomes and quality of life," he says.
SUPPORTING LIFE-SAVING RESEARCH
Mingxin’s research is supported by the Forrest Research Foundation, which helps more than 60 researchers from around the world with their PhD and post-doctorate studies. The foundation has given him "tremendous academic freedom to pursue this breakthrough."
"This is a reason why I’m able to conduct this research that no one has done before," Mingxin says. "Have a leap of faith and have belief in yourself that you can do it."
In my opinion, Mingxin's research is a fascinating example of how engineering can be used to improve human health. The use of Kevlar in implants is particularly intriguing, as it combines the strength of carbon fibre with the impact resistance of bulletproof materials. This could lead to significant advancements in the treatment of broken bones and other injuries.
One thing that immediately stands out is the potential impact of this research on the healthcare system. With a growing aging population, the demand for effective bone healing solutions is likely to increase. If Mingxin's research can speed up the healing process and reduce the need for additional surgeries, it could have a significant economic and social impact.
What many people don't realize is that the principles of engineering and material science are not limited to large-scale structures. They can be applied to a wide range of fields, including healthcare and biomedical engineering. This makes the work of researchers like Mingxin even more important and valuable.
If you take a step back and think about it, the human body is a complex system that requires a multidisciplinary approach to understand and improve. By combining engineering principles with medical knowledge, researchers like Mingxin are making significant strides in the field of healthcare.
A detail that I find especially interesting is the use of Kevlar in implants. While it may seem like an unusual material for medical applications, its impact resistance and strength make it a valuable addition to the field of biomedical engineering. This raises a deeper question: what other materials and technologies can be used to improve the healing process and reduce the need for additional surgeries?
What this really suggests is that the future of healthcare may involve a more interdisciplinary approach, where engineers, scientists, and medical professionals work together to develop innovative solutions. This could lead to significant advancements in the treatment of various medical conditions, including broken bones and other injuries.
In conclusion, Mingxin Ye's research is a fascinating example of how engineering can be used to improve human health. The use of Kevlar in implants is particularly intriguing, and the potential impact of this research on the healthcare system is significant. By combining engineering principles with medical knowledge, researchers like Mingxin are making significant strides in the field of healthcare, and the future of medicine may involve a more interdisciplinary approach.
