Prof. Thomas Webster (Engineering and Orthopaedics) and post-doctoral researcher, Dr. Jeremiah Ejiofor, were just issued patent no. 7824462 "Metallic Nanoparticles As Orthopaedic Biomaterials" which claims the use of metallic nanoparticles as improved orthopedic implants due to their unique surface energy which promotes bone cells. The patent is currently liscensed to Nanovis, Inc. (
http://www.nanovisinc.com/).
Below: A picture of nanoparticulate CoCrMo, a popular orthopedic implant material.