BIOMATERIALS

L I F E M AT E R I A L S

BIOMATERIALS
Biomaterials encompasses aspects of
medicine, biology, chemistry, engineering and
materials science.
As a science,biomaterialsis about fifty years
old.
Biomaterials are : Non-living materials used
in a medical devices intended to interact with
biological systems [D.F. Williams, 1987]

FUNCTIONS OF BIOMATERIALS
Biomaterials can be derived either from nature or
synthesized in the laboratory using a variety of
chemical approaches utilizing metallic
components,polymers, ceramics and composite
materials.
It is often used for a medical application, and thus
comprises whole or part of a living structure which
performs, augments, or replaces a natural function.

FIELDS OF KNOWLEDGE
Science and engineering: (Materials Science)
structure-property relationships of synthetic and
biological materials including metals, ceramics,
polymers, composites, tissues (blood and connective
tissues), etc.
Biology and Physiology: Cell and molecular biology,
anatomy, animal and human physiology,
histopathology, experimental surgery, immunology,
etc.
Clinical Sciences: (All the clinical Specialties) density,
maxillofacial, neurosurgery, obstetrics and

REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION

The material must be BIOCOMPATIBLE, it means that
the organism should not treat it as a foreign object.
material should be BIODEGRADABLE ; the material
should harmlessly degrade or dissolve in the body of
the organism to allow it to resume natural functioning
the material should be MECHANICALLY SOUND; for the
replacement of load bearing structures, the material
should possess equivalent or greater mechanical
stability to ensure high reliability of the graft

MATERIAL SELECTION PARAMETERS

Mechanical
Thermal/Electrical Conductivity
Diffusion
Water Absorption
Biostability
Biocompatibility

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
The tensile test is a common testing procedure
used to provide data for characterization of
biomaterials.
1. Elastic Modulus
2. Hardness
3. Fracture strength
4. Fracture toughness
5. Fatigue

Material

Tensile strength
(MPa)

Compressive
strength (MPa)

Elastic modulus
(GPa)

Fracture
toughness
(MPa. m-1/2)

Bioglass

42[5]

500[5]

35[6]

2[6]

Cortical Bone

50-151[5]

100-230[7]

7-30[6]

2-12[6]

Titanium

345[8]

250-600[9]

102.7[8]

58-66[8]

Stainless steel

465-950[1]

1000[9]

200[5]

55-95[9]

Ti-Alloys

596-1100[8]

450-1850[9]

55-114[8]

40-92[8]

Alumina

270-500[9]

3000-5000[9]

380-410[6]

5-6[6]

Hydroxyapatite
s

40-300[9]

500-1000[7]

80-120[6]

0.6-1[6]

THERMAL PROPERTIES
Wide temperature fluctuations occur in the oral cavity
due to the ingestion of hot or cold food and drink.
Thermal Conductivity is the rate of heat flow per unit
temperature gradient. Thus, good conductors have
high values of conductivity.

USES OF BIOMATERIALS

BIOMATERIALS: EXAMPLES
Joint replacements
Bone plates
Bone cement
Hip Joint
Artificial ligaments and tendons
Heart valve
Dental implants for tooth fixation
Blood vessel prostheses
Heart valves
Skin repair devices
Cochlear replacements
Contact lenses
Knee joint

Hip joint

Skin

COMPOSITES
Composite materials have been extensively used
in dentistry and prosthesis.
Typically, a matrix of ultrahigh-molecular-weight
polyethylene (UHMWPE) is reinforced with carbon
fibers.
This fiber reinforced composite can then be used
to make a variety of implants such as intramedullary rods and artificial joints.
Composites have unique properties and are
usually stronger than any of the single materials

CERAMICS
The most frequently used ceramic implant materials include aluminum
oxides, calcium phosphates, and apatites and graphite.
Glasses have also been developed for medical applications.
Use of ceramics was motivated by
(i) their inertness in the body,
(ii) their formability into a variety of shapes and porosities,
(iii) their high compressive strength, and
(iv) some cases their excellent wear characteristics
Used in,
(a) hip prostheses,
(b) artificial knees,
(c) bone grafts,

BIOPOLYMERS
Biopolymersarepolymersproduced by living
organisms.
Celluloseandstarch,proteinsandpeptides,
andDNAandRNAare all examples of biopolymers,
in which thermonumericunits, respectively,
aresugars,amino acids, andnucleotides.
Cellulose is both the most common biopolymer and
the most common organic compound on Earth.
About 33% of all plant matter is cellulose

APPLICATIONS

HEART VALVE

INTRAOCULAR LENSES

DENTAL IMPLANTS

VASCULAR GRAFT

ARTIFICIAL HIP JOINTS

TEST CONDITIONS
pH
pO2
Temperature
Mechanical Stress
Stress Cycles (per year)

Value
6.8
7.0
7.15-7.35
2-40
40
100
37
28 7
-2
4x108 N m-2
4x105 N m
3x106
7
5x10 - 4x10

Location
Intracellular
Interstitial
Blood
Interstitial (mm Hg)
Venous
Arterial
Normal Core
Normal Skin
Muscle (peak stress)
Tendon (peak stress)
Peristalsis
Heart muscle contraction

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