BIOMATERIALS

Introduction
Biomaterial is a non viable material used in a medical device, intended to interact with
biological system.
A biomaterial is defined as any systemically, pharmacologically inert substance or
combination of substances utilized for implantation within or incorporation with a living
system to supplement or replace functions of living tissues or organs.
The ability to replace or augment damaged organs, or blood vessels or tissues in part or
as a whole has improved the scope of human life. In addition, a variety of extracorporeal
devices, such as the heart, lung and blood dialysis machines are used commonly in
medical technology. The availability of human organs is difficult which has paved the
way for the use of synthetic materials. Each biomaterial has a particular lifespan in the
human body.
The only alternate to artificial implants is transplantation of organs such as heart,
kidney, etc., but this effort has been hindered due to social, ethical and immunological
problems.
Biocompatibility is the ability of material to perform within an appropriate host
response in a specific application. In other words, it is the quality of not having toxic or
injurious effects on biological systems.

Classifications
 When a synthetic material is placed within the human body, tissue reacts towards
the implant in a variety of ways depending on the material type.
 The mechanism of tissue interaction depends on the tissue response to the
implant surface.
 Biomedical materials can be divided roughly in to three main types governed by
the tissue response.
 Biomaterials are widely classified as
1. Bioinert Biomaterials
2. Bioactive Biomaterials
3. Bioresorbable Biomaterials
 Bioinert Biomaterials
1. The term bioinert refers to any material that once placed in the human body has
minimal interaction with its surrounding tissue.
2. Generally a fibrous capsule might form around bioinert implants hence its
biofunctionality relies on tissue integration through the implant.
3. Examples of these are stainless steel, titanium, alumina, partially stabilized
zirconia, and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

 Bioactive Biomaterials
1. Bioactive refers to a material, which upon being placed within the human body
interacts with the surrounding bone and in some cases, even soft tissue.
2. This occurs through a time – dependent kinetic modification of the surface,
triggered by their implantation within the living bone.
3. An ion-exchange reaction between the bioactive implant and the surrounding
body fluids results in the formation of a biologically active carbonate apatite
(CHAp) layer on the implant that is chemically and crystallographically equivalent
to the mineral phase in bone.
4. Prime examples of these materials are synthetic hydroxyapatite
[Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2], glass ceramic and bioglass.

 Bioresorbable Materials
1. Bioresorbable refers to a material that upon placement withing the human body
starts to dissolve and slowly replaced by advancing tissue (such as bone).
2. Calcium oxide, calcium carbonate and gypsum are other common materials that
have been utilized during the last three decades.
3. Common examples of bioresorbable materials are tricalcium phosphate
[Ca3(PO4)2] and polylactic polyglycolic acid polymers.
Applications of Biomaterials

 Skeletal System
1. Joint replacements – Titanium, stainless steel, polyethylene
2. Plate for fracture fixation – Stainless steel, cobalt-chromium alloy
3. Bone Cement – Poly(methyl methacrylate)
4. Artificial tendon and ligament – Teflon, Dacron
5. Dental Implants – Titanium, alumina, calcium phosphate

 Cardiovascular System
1. Blood vessel Prosthesis – Teflon, Dacron, Polyurethane
2. Heart valve – Reprocessed tissue, Stainless steel, Carbon
3. Catheter – Silicone rubber, Teflon, Polyurethane

 Senses
1. Cochlear replacement – Platinum electrodes
2. Intraocular lens – Poly(methyl methacrylate), Hydrogel
3. Contact lens – Silicone-acrylate, Hydrogel
4. Corneal bandage – Collagen, Hydrogel

 Organs
1. Artificial Heart – Polyurethane
2. Artificial Kidney – Cellulose, Polyacrylonitrile
3. Heart lung machine – Silicone rubber