Biocompatibility: Material Responses in a Biological Environment

Question 1

a biomaterial’s biocompatibility

Answer 1

the biological performance in an intended application that is judged suitable to the specific situation

Question 2

material response

Answer 2

the material behaviour when placed in the microenvironment of living systems

Question 3

host response

Answer 3

the local and systemic response of living systems as a result of the material

Question 4

what contributes to biocompatibility assessment

Answer 4

host response
testing of these properties using relevant assays
material response
biocompatible

Question 5

what does biocompatibility mean in the clinic

Answer 5

materials go through testing and approval to ensure it is safe and effective

Question 6

what factors contribute to biocompatibility

Answer 6

host responses to biomaterials
material responses in a biological environment
overall biomaterial response

Question 7

swelling

Answer 7

the movement of atomic or molecular species from the body fluids into a plastic
the motion of water/lipids into a polymer

Question 8

leaching

Answer 8

the movement of a material component from the plastic into the body
solute or solvent leaving a polymer into biological fluid

Question 9

driving force

Answer 9

why a change happens
concentration gradient

Question 10

mechanism

Answer 10

how the change occurs
pathway to move through water

Question 11

what defines the likelihood and method of a material change

Answer 11

the combination of driving force and mechanism

Question 12

what properties define swelling

Answer 12

strength of polymer-solvent interaction dictates the level of dissolution
solvation - water gets in
unfolding - water infiltrate polymer chains
swelling - an increase in hydrodynamic volume

Question 13

polymer dissolution in water can be minimized by material design

Answer 13

material crosslinking
interpenetrating network
hydrophobic residues

Question 14

material crosslinking

Answer 14

turns many polymer chain into one giant network, preventing chains from moving apart

Question 15

interpenetrating network

Answer 15

uses a secondary non-swelling material as a skeleton to prevent changes in volume

Question 16

hydrophobic residues

Answer 16

limits the ability for water to enter the system and changes to dissolve

Question 17

how does swelling accelerate leaching

Answer 17

with the hydration of polymer chains, bulk materials are more accessible to water
penetration of water creates a path for small molecules to exit a bulk material
combination with physical forces, can induce convective transport

Question 18

leachable molecules in plastic dental materials

Answer 18

in plastic components prone to swelling you could expect residuals from synthesis or forming of the polymer, and additive put in to achieve properties

Question 19

polymer degradation

Answer 19

the breakdown of chemical bonds in polymer chains
shorter chains are more soluble

Question 20

polymer degradation in biological environment

Answer 20

caused by several chemical and mechanical driving forces defined by the environment they are placed in, and their chemical structure

Question 21

hydrolysis

Answer 21

the reverse of condensation
water breaks the polymer bond

Question 22

polymer degradation via hydrolysis

Answer 22

polymer properties affect the ability for water to reach the site of degradation

Question 23

examples of hydrolysis to provide function

Answer 23

resorbable sutures break down over time to eliminate need to remove

controlled drug release

Question 24

corrosion and the breaking down of metals

Answer 24

metals are made up of ions that can be highly reactive
they can react with some biological environments and become soluble, breaking down the implant

Question 25

corrosion is impacted by

Answer 25

material (conductivity, surface roughness, composition)
environmental (temperature, pH, cell behaviour, oxygen)

Question 26

inadequate consideration of corrosion risk can lead to

Answer 26

compromised material function and release of byproducts that can impact biocompatibility