Biomaterials

- Definitions
- Classification and Applications
- Biomimetics
 General Reading - References

• B. D. Ratner, A. S. Hoffman, F. J. Schoen, J. E. Lemons (Editors) 2004: Biomaterials Science: An

Introduction to Materials in Medicine, Academic Press, New York.

• F.H. Silver 1994: Biomaterials Medical Devices and Tissue Engineering an Integrated Approach to
Chapman and Hall

• L. L. Hench, 1998: Bioceramics J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 81, 1705–1728.

• L. L. Hench, J. M. Polak, 2002: Third-Generation Biomedical Materials, Science 295, 1014–1017.

• D.F. Williams 1992: Medical and Dental Materials vol 14, Science and Technology of Materials
VCH.

• S. Hollister, 2005: Porous scaffold design for tissue engineering Nature Materials 4, 518 - 524

• K. Rezwan, Q. Z. Chen, J. J. Blaker, A. R. Boccaccini, 2006: Biodegradable and bioactive porous

polymer/inorganic composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering Biomaterials 27, 3413-31.
 Definitions of Biomaterials: Different
definitions proposed
• “A biomaterial is a systemically or pharmacologically
inert substance designed for implantation within or
incorporation with living systems” (Clemson Advisory
Board for Biomaterials US Govemment Legal Definition)

• Biomaterials are materials of natural or man made origin

that are used to direct supplement or replace the
functions of living tissue” (J. Black)

• “A non viable material used in medical devices intended

to interact with biological systems” (D.F. Willams)
BIOMATERIALS

3. Generation:
Genetic active
biomaterialien

1990s …

2. Generation:
Biochemical active
materials
1960s-1980s

1.Generation: Inert biomaterials

 Synthetic biomaterials used in medical applications (I).

Materials Group Examples

Rather stable:
Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polydimethyl-
siloxane, Polyurethane, Polyte-trafluorethylene,
Polyvinylchloride, Poly-amides,
Polymethylmethacrylate, Polycarbo-nate,
Polymers Polyethyleneterephtalate

Degradable:
Polyesters (Polyglycolacid, Polylactideacid,
Polyhydroxybutyrate, Poly-caprolactone,
Polydioxanone)

No specific shape:
Hydrogels(Homopoly-mer, Copolymer,
Multipolymer, Interpenetra-ting Polymers)
Synthetic biomaterials used in medical applications (II).

Stainless steel (Fe-Cr-Ni-Mo)Co-Cr alloys(Co-Cr-Mo,

Co-Cr-W-Ni, Co-Ni-Cr-Mo-Ti)

Ti-alloys (Ti, Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-Ni shape memory)

Metals
Amalgames (Hg-Ag,Sn,Cu)

Noblemetals (Au, Ag)

 Synthetic biomaterials used in medical applications (III).

Bioinert: Silicates (porcelain, enstatite),

Oxides (Al2O3, ZrO2, TiO2), C (PyC, diamond)

Bioactive: Phosphates (Ca5(PO4)3/OH, Ca3(PO4)2,

Ceramics Bioglass(45SiO2-6P2O5-20CaO-25NaO), Glass Ceramics
(SiO2-CaO-P2O5-Na2O-TiO2)

Bioresorbable: Ca3(PO4)2

Composites
Natural biomaterials
Examples of biomaterials used for implants in medicine.
 Typical Biomedical
Applications of Polymers
Poly(methylmethacylate)
UHMWPE
(Ultra High Molecular
Weight Polyethylene)
PET (Polyethylene terephthalate)
Polyurethanes
Polythema
(Polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate)
Silicones
Poly(propylene)
Hard Contact Lenses Intraocular Lenses
Bone Cements, Denture Base
Bearing Surfaces in Artificial Joint
Artificial Arteries
Catheters
Soft Contact Lenses, Wound Dressings
Drug Release Matrices
Breast Implants
Sutures, Heart Valves, Finger Joints

Poly(glycolide) Biodegradable Sutures

 Typical Biomedical
Applications of Ceramics
Femoral Heads, Dental Ceramics
Alumina
Partially Stabilised
Femoral Heads
Zirconia
Bone Substitutes, TE scaffolds
Calcium Phosphates Bone Substitutes, TE scaffolds
Bioactive glasses
Carbons Heart Valves
Porcelain Dental Crowns
 Biomedical Applications of Metals

Titanium Heart Pacemaker Housings

Ti6Al4V Alloy Hip Prostheses
Co-Cr Alloys Hip Prostheses
316 Stainless Steel Fracture Fixation Plates
Shape Memory
Metals (Nitanol) Stents, Orthodontic Wire
Amalgam Dental Fillings
 Biomedical Applications
of Natural Materials

Collagen Artifical Ligaments

Bone Glue
Fibrin Glue
Microporous Bone Substitute
Coral
Gelatin Artificial Heart Valves

Other biomaterials are composite and hybrid biomaterials

combining polymers, ceramics and/or metals as well as
of natural materials (or even living cells) incorporated in a
synthetic matrix
(Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine).
Examples of biomedical composite materials
(Ratner et al., Biomaterials Science, 2004).
Examples of applications of biomaterials.
 Tissue Engineering
“...the science of persuading the body to regenerate or repair
tissues that fail to regenerate or heal spontaneously.”
(Agrawal and Ray, 2001)

Signaling molecules
In vitro - Cell culture

Implant

Scaffold

Cells

Langer & Vacanti, 1991

 Scaffolds made of composite materials
(for bone and cartilage tissue engineering)
Resorbable polymers Bioactive material
(natural or synthetic, e.g. (e.g. hydroxyapatite,
PLA, PGA etc.) bioactive glasses)

Composites for tissue

engineering scaffolds

A bioactive phase will improve osteoconductivity of a polymer

scaffold enabling the formation of hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA)
on the surface and a site for bone re-growth.
Moreover, the bioactive phase can be used to control the
degradation rate of the polymer and to enhance mechanical
properties.
A. R. Boccaccini, et al, Ceram. Eng. Sci. Proc. (2002).
 Bone Tissue
Engineering
Human skeletal stem cells from
patient
⇓
Cell culture (expansion)
⇓
Attachment to scaffold
⇓
Transplantation

HA Pre-clinical study
Petite et al., Nat Biotechnol 18;959:2000.
Microstructure of biomaterials
Bulk and Interface/Surface dominated properties
 Biomimetics

• Nature produces designs using materials Æ

valuable knowledge Æ understanding of
biomaterials in general

• and the performance of biomaterials when they

are replacing human tissue.
 Biological Materials

• In order to design and produce successful

biomaterials we need to appreciate and understand
the biological materials and systems we are
replacing.

• Properties of natural materials such as bone, tooth

and cartilage should be understood.

• Natural materials have a complex

architecture/microstructure exhibiting hierachical
organisation from molecular structure through to
microstructure and macrostructure.
 Biomimetics
• Increasing emphasis on biomimetics or the mimicking of
the way nature synthesises and produces materials both
for the development of novel biomedical materials and
for industrial materials synthesis.

• Nature is outstanding, achieving the best possible

properties from a material by accurate control of both
macrostructure and microstructure (nanostructure).

• Biological materials have very complex architecture with

organisation and they exhibit unique properties that are
hard to reproduce with synthetic (man-made) materials
and devices
 Natural biomaterials

The abalone shell is a microlaminate composite of calcium carbonate

crystals and proteins, with a fracture-toughness 3,000-times greater
than that of the crystals alone (upper). Although the proteins comprise
only a few percent of the mass of the composite, they are responsible
for the tremendous enhancement of strength of the material and the
precise control of its unique nanostructure
 Biological Materials are Smart

• Organisms respond to the external environment

Æ materials/tissues also respond.

• Biological materials such as bone:

• Change shape during growth.
• Self repairing capability.
• Adapt to external stimuli (e.g. applied loads).
Hierarchical structure of natural biomaterials: bone
 Wolff‘s Law
• Functional adaptation of boneÆ Wolff‘s
Law. (Julius Wolff)

• The form of bone being given the bone

elements place or displace themselves in
the direction of the functional pressure and
decrease their mass to reflect the amount
of functional pressure (Julius Wolff 1982)