The development of
biomaterials is not a new area of
scienceScience is in its broadest sense to any systematic knowledge-base or prescriptive practice that is capable of resulting in a prediction or predictable type of outcome...
, having existed for around half a century. The study of biomaterials is called biomaterial science. It is a provocative field of science, having experienced steady and strong growth over its history, with many companies investing large amounts of money into the development of new products. Biomaterial science encompasses elements of
medicineMedicine is the art and science of healing. It encompasses a range of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
,
biologyBiology is the natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy...
,
chemistryChemistry is the science concerned with the composition, behavior, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions...
,
tissue engineeringTissue engineering was once categorised as a subfield of biomaterials, but having grown in scope and importance it can be considered as a field in its own right. It is the use of a combination of cells, engineering and materials methods, and suitable biochemical and physio-chemical factors to...
and
materials scienceMaterials science or materials engineering is an interdisciplinary field involving the properties of matter and its applications to various areas of science and engineering. This science investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their...
.
While a definition for the term 'biomaterial' has been difficult to formulate, more widely accepted working definitions include:
"A biomaterial is any material, natural or man-made, that comprises whole or part of a living structure or biomedical device which performs, augments, or replaces a natural function".
" A Biomaterial is a nonviable material used in medical device,so it's intended to interact with a biological systems (William 19
A biomaterial is essentially a material that is used and adapted for a medical application.
Biomaterials can have a benign function, such as being used for a
heart valveIn anatomy, the heart valves maintain the unidirectional flow of blood in the heart by opening and closing depending on the difference in pressure on each side...
, or may be bioactive .
Used for a more interactive purpose such as hydroxy-apatite coated hip implants (the Furlong Hip, by Joint Replacement Instrumentation Ltd, Sheffield is one such example – such implants are lasting upwards of twenty years).
Biomaterials are also used every day in dental applications, surgery, and drug delivery (a construct with impregnated pharmaceutical products can be placed into the body, which permits the prolonged release of a drug over an extended period of time).
The definition of a biomaterial does not just include man-made materials which are constructed of metals or
ceramicsBioceramics and bioglasses are ceramic materials which are biocompatible. Bioceramics are an important subset of biomaterials. Bioceramics range in biocompatibility from the ceramic oxides which are inert in the body, to the other extreme of resorbable materials which are eventually replaced by...
.
The development of
biomaterials is not a new area of
scienceScience is in its broadest sense to any systematic knowledge-base or prescriptive practice that is capable of resulting in a prediction or predictable type of outcome...
, having existed for around half a century. The study of biomaterials is called biomaterial science. It is a provocative field of science, having experienced steady and strong growth over its history, with many companies investing large amounts of money into the development of new products. Biomaterial science encompasses elements of
medicineMedicine is the art and science of healing. It encompasses a range of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
,
biologyBiology is the natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy...
,
chemistryChemistry is the science concerned with the composition, behavior, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions...
,
tissue engineeringTissue engineering was once categorised as a subfield of biomaterials, but having grown in scope and importance it can be considered as a field in its own right. It is the use of a combination of cells, engineering and materials methods, and suitable biochemical and physio-chemical factors to...
and
materials scienceMaterials science or materials engineering is an interdisciplinary field involving the properties of matter and its applications to various areas of science and engineering. This science investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their...
.
Definition
While a definition for the term 'biomaterial' has been difficult to formulate, more widely accepted working definitions include:
"A biomaterial is any material, natural or man-made, that comprises whole or part of a living structure or biomedical device which performs, augments, or replaces a natural function".
" A Biomaterial is a nonviable material used in medical device,so it's intended to interact with a biological systems (William 19
A biomaterial is essentially a material that is used and adapted for a medical application.
Biomaterials can have a benign function, such as being used for a
heart valveIn anatomy, the heart valves maintain the unidirectional flow of blood in the heart by opening and closing depending on the difference in pressure on each side...
, or may be bioactive .
Used for a more interactive purpose such as hydroxy-apatite coated hip implants (the Furlong Hip, by Joint Replacement Instrumentation Ltd, Sheffield is one such example – such implants are lasting upwards of twenty years).
Biomaterials are also used every day in dental applications, surgery, and drug delivery (a construct with impregnated pharmaceutical products can be placed into the body, which permits the prolonged release of a drug over an extended period of time).
The definition of a biomaterial does not just include man-made materials which are constructed of metals or
ceramicsBioceramics and bioglasses are ceramic materials which are biocompatible. Bioceramics are an important subset of biomaterials. Bioceramics range in biocompatibility from the ceramic oxides which are inert in the body, to the other extreme of resorbable materials which are eventually replaced by...
. A biomaterial may also be an autograft, allograft or xenograft used as a transplant material.
Applications
Biomaterials are used in:
- Joint replacements
- Bone plates
- Bone cement
- Artificial ligaments and tendons
- Dental implants for tooth fixation
- Blood vessel prostheses
- Heart valves
- Skin repair devices
- Cochlear replacements
- Contact lenses
- Breast implants
Biomaterials must be compatible with the body, and there are often issues of
biocompatibilityBiocompatibility is related to the behavior of biomaterials in various contexts. The term may refer to specific properties of a material without specifying where or how the material is used, or to more empirical clinical success of a whole device in...
which must be resolved before a product can be placed on the market and used in a
clinical-Medicine:* Clinical medical practice* Clinic* Illness* Clinical waste, segregated for safety or security* Clinical medical professions* Clinical psychology* Clinical examination; see Physical examination...
setting. Because of this, biomaterials are usually subjected to the same requirements of those undergone by new
drugA drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
therapies. All manufacturing companies are also required to ensure traceability of all of their products so that if a defective product is discovered, others in the same batch may be traced.
Subjects integral to biomaterials science
A material should not be toxic, unless specifically engineered to be so (for example “smart” drug delivery systems that target cancer cells and destroy them).
Biocompatibility is difficult to measure, it is defined in terms of success at a specific task.
- Functional Tissue structure and pathobiology
Understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the action site is essential for a biomaterial to be effective.
Healing is an essential consideration when using biomaterials. The body may experience what is known as a foreign-body reaction after implementation so immuno-suppression may be required.
- Dependence on Specific anatomical sites of implantation
It is important, during design, to ensure that the implement will fit complementarily and have a beneficial effect with the specific anatomical area of action.
- Mechanical and Performance requirements
Biomaterials that have a mechanical operation must perform to certain standards and be able to cope with pressures. It is therefore essential that all biomaterials are well designed and are tested. Biomaterials that are used with a mechanical application, such as hip implants, are usually designed using CAD (Computer Aided Design) which allows all of the directional stresses to be calculated, ensuring maximum product life.
Companies and researchers push the boundaries and development of science in general, and biomaterials are no exception.
Ethical considerations are paramount – as are legal considerations and compliance with the law.
As mentioned above, regulation and records are required to be kept by the product manufacturer for much longer than the product life.