Introduction to Biomaterials Flashcards
Lecture 1 of 8
What is a biomaterial?
A material that is designed with the purpose to interact with the body AND can direct the course of any therapeutic or diagnostic procedure
What can biomaterials be?
Metals, Polymers, Ceramics, composites, Combinations
List a few advantages and limitations of using metals as biomaterials
+ High stiffness, hardness, resistance, tensile strain and compressive stress
- elasticity, prone to rust, high density
Name some applications of metals as a biomaterial
Name some ceramic biomaterials and an application
- Alumina - The ceramic used as the femoral head and acetabular cup in Hip implants
- Zirconia - In dental implants
- Hydroxyapatite - As a coating for implants due to enhanced bone grafting ability
What are some advantages and limitations to bioceramics?
+ Very biocompatible, less dense than metal, Strong, promote osseointegration, smooth (low wear)
- Not flexible, too hard often, brittle
What are some advantages and limitation to polymers used as biomaterials?
+ Biocompatible, high resilience, easy to construct, highly tuneable properties
- Less strong, microparticle release
What is a biomaterial composite?
A combination of 2 or more materials with distinct properties, designed to leverage the strength of each component
eg: Hydrogel -metal nanoparticle composite for wound dressing an sustained therapeutic release
Bone cement
What are some advantages and limitations to composite materials?
+ Biocompatible, utilises powerful properties from certain materials
- Hard to construct, requires precision to execute successfully
What are the general key requirements of Biomaterials?
1) Biocompatible
2) Non-toxic
3) Non-immunogenic
4) Non-corrosive
5) Adequate mechanical strength
what do these properties mean?
1) Biocompatible
2) Non-toxic
3) Non-immunogenic
4) Non-corrosive
1) Biologically compatible with host tissue not evoking any reaction
2) Not evoking toxicity in tissue
3) Not evoking an immune response
4) Not corrode at physiological pH and temp
What is the difference between Bioactive an Bioinert?
Bioactive = elicit a specific biological response at interface resulting in a formation of bond between material and tissue
Bioinert = Does not release any toxic constituents or elicit a response
What was the ambition for first generation medical implants?
Achieve the physical properties of the biological material being replaced eliciting a minimal toxic response
What was the ambition for second generation medical implants?
To develop components that elicit specific wanted biological activity in the host tissue
(Uses bioactive materials like HA coating)
What is the ambition for third generation medical implants?
The next step is to stimulate specific cellular responses at the molecular level by combining bioactive materials with complex scaffolds and biochemical cues like growth factors
