Bioartificial materials synthetic components

A review is given of the authors work in developing new bioinspired materials, called bioartificial materials. The key is to understand the interactions between the synthetic and biological systems and to obtain materials where these interactions are optimized prior to their contact with a living tissue. The work shown in this paper provides encouraging indication for the developments of new biomaterials containing synthetic and natural components with improved performances for new applications. 

One of the first attempts in the realisation of bioartificial matrices, containing as an enzyme as a biological component was carried out in our research group by Cristallini et al. (5). In view of the basic idea of bioartificial materials, the goal of this study was the analysis of interactions and relationship at nanoscale level between a synthetic component and a-amylase enzyme, from chemical and physical points of view. 

Polymeric materials are extensively utilized in the biomedical field. While it is much easier to employ synthetic polymers in the biomedical field, natural polymers are also essential owing to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. An additional method of fabrication of polymeric materials for biomedical applications is to mix together synthetic polymers with natural ones. Growing interest in innovative materials based on blends of two or more polymers has been studied through the last three decades. Blends of synthetic and natural polymers can shape a novel class of materials with superior mechanical properties and biocompatibility in comparison those of single components. This emerging class called as bioartificial or biosynthetic polymeric materials [15-18]. Natural polymers are typically biocompatible, while synthetic polymers can include a residue of... 

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