Bioartificial materials system

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. 

First attempts at template polymerisation were carried out in the radical polymerisation of acrylic monomers onto synthetic templates in aqueous environment and the development of efficient monitoring systems for the investigation of template influence on the reaction kinetics of homo- and copolymerisation (24-30). After these studies, attention was devoted to transferring the lesson learned by- studying fully synthetic systems to the preparation of bioartificial materials by polymerising acrylic monomers onto a template of natural origin. 

In our pursuit of bioartificial systems to be delivered or containing an enzyme that plays its specific role of a catalyst for a bioreaction to modify such chemical or functional property of host matrix, our group investigated different possibilities of preparing bio-compatible, bio-fimctional and bio-inspired materials for advanced applications in the biomaterials field. 

IV. Enzyme-based Bioartificial Polymeric Materials as Bioactive Immobilisation Systems... 

Our screening and testing of multicomponent capsules/beads is incomplete. However, it offers a novel approach for the material selection for immobilization devices, which permits the simultaneous control of permeability, mechanical stability, and compatibility. The alternative multicomponent systems presented herein offer new possibilities for biomaterials, particularly those employed in bioartificial organs. 

A variety of systems can be employed for cell or enzyme immobilization. These include, for example, microcarriers, gel entrapment," hoUow fibers, encapsulation and conformal coatings. The latter three have been extensively tested in small animal models over the last 20 years, particularly in the area of diabetes therapy. The polymeric materials used in bioartificial endocrine devices (the terms bioartificial and endocrine device are often distinguished from artificial organs due to the presence of tissue in the former two) serve two major purposes ... 

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