Biomaterials in Medicine - A Bioengineering Perspective

Abstract

Biomaterials are considered with an emphasis on those used in artificial organs. Attention is drawn to the importance of the polymeric biomaterials and factors which affect their properties. Functions of membranes, sorbents, blood tubing, ventricular diaphragms and cell culture substrates are examined in order to obtain a summary of fundamental properties. Observations are made on the importance of blood compatibility assessment and its association with a biomaterial structure-property relationship. Blood-biomaterial interactions are discussed in terms of an overall relationship between the three components--blood, biomaterial and antithrombotic agent, with examples given of factors influencing each component. Cell-biomaterial interactions are examined in the areas of toxicity evaluation and the promotion of cell attachment and growth, where an overall relationship is described for the cell, growth medium and growth factors, and the biomaterial acting as a substrate.

Biomaterials and host versus graft response: a short review

“…For example, the study of biomaterials for vascular applications includes factors such as interactions between the blood and the implant, the factors influencing the response of blood components to the implant as well as the evaluation of these phenomena. Specific reactions of platelets, red blood cells and leukocytes to the artificial material, activation of the complement, coagulation cascade, adsorption of proteins and the fibrinolytic activity are important factors within the organism in terms of the interactions between blood and implants or grafts [ 7 , 8 , 18 , 19 ]. On the other hand, the reaction of blood components to the implant could be affected by the composition of the biomaterial, the presence of antithrombotic agents, active ingredients of drugs acting on an organism, the use of biomaterial and the type of injury or defect responsible for the implant used [ 20 - 23 ].…”

“…The tests performed under in vivo conditions follow. These may continue to clinical research and ultimately lead to the general use of the implant [ 7 , 21 , 22 , 24 ].…”

“…The first group includes: (I) The local effects with interactions between blood and implant, infection, influence on the normal course of treatment, toxicity and carcinogenesis, as well as, (II) the systemic effect of implant particle embolization, hypersensitivity reactions and the increased amount of chemical compounds within the implant in the body. The second group includes the interaction of the organism to the implant: (I) The biological effects of enzymatic degradation, calcification and absorption of the artificial material and (II) the physical and mechanical effect of the material such as fatigue, abrasion, corrosion, and dissolution [ 2 , 7 , 21 , 27 - 29 ].…”

Biomaterials in cardiopulmonary bypass

“…However, while efforts are often aimed at producing polymer surfaces which are more blood compatible, 3,5 compatibility is only one of the fundamental properties of a biomaterial. 6 It is also necessary for the biomaterial to possess a degree of stability appropriate for the clinical application and a functional characteristic, which is permeability for a membrane and flexibility for blood tubing.…”

Modification of polymer surfaces: optimization of approaches

“…The blood compatibility of a biomaterial is dependent on the application 16 and a modification procedure must take into account not only fundamental properties of stability and compatibility, 17 but requirements such as ease of processing and ability to be sterilized. Therefore, the application can influence surface modification with respect to procedure suitability and in balancing effectiveness against cost.…”