Biomaterials and biocompatibility: An historical overview

Abstract

This review focuses on the characteristics and applications of biomaterials through the ages, ranging from the prehistoric times to the beginning of the era of modern medicine, which has been arbitrarily set to the middle of the 19th century, when aseptic procedures, antiseptic substances and modern anesthetics were developed. After a brief discussion on the definition of “biomaterial” from an historical point of view and a short introduction on the general history of surgery and dentistry, each material or class of materials will be presented with references listed in chronological order and, where possible, with their real, scientifically demonstrated effects on biological tissues. Particular attention has been given to references that are nowadays considered spurious or affected by translation errors or other kinds of biases.

Advanced Biomaterials and Techniques for Oral Tissue Engineering and Regeneration—A Review

“…They are often used in medical applications to augment or replace a natural function. Based on their biocompatibility, biomaterials are classified as bioactive, biotolerant, biodegradable, and bioinert [ 36 ].…”

“…Bioactive materials, by stimulating the biological response, may lead to osteogenesis by making strong chemical bonds. They are being classified into osteoconductive (hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate), which stimulate bone growth along the surface, and osteoproductive (bioactive glasses), which are capable of stimulating the growth of new bone away from the bone/implant interface [ 36 ].…”

“…Biodegradable materials (polymers, such as polyglycolic and polylactic acids, and their co-polymers [ 37 ], ceramics as calcium phosphates [ 38 ], and magnesium) as biodegradable metal dissolve in contact with body fluids, the dissolution products being eliminated via the kidneys, without noticeable effects to the host. Biodegradable materials are used commonly used for surgical sutures, tissues in growth materials, and controlled drug release [ 36 ].…”

“…The natural organic materials include peptides (collagen or gelatin) and polysaccharides (alginate, chitosan, agarose). Frequently used synthetic organic materials include poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(caprolactone) (PCL), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) [ 36 ].…”

“…In particular, in dental regeneration, biomaterials must be suitable for the specific environment characteristics of the oral cavity considering pH, temperature, the presence of microorganisms, and the effect of mastication forces. To achieve these properties, most designed scaffolds deliberately mimic the structure of the natural ECM [ 36 ].…”