Biomaterials biomedical composites

Sericin is recovered during the various stages of producing raw silk. Sericin is oxidation-, bacterial-, and UV-resistant, and it absorbs and releases moisture rapidly. Sericin can be cross-linked, copolymerized, and blended with other macromolecular materials, especially artificial polymers. The materials modified with sericin and sericin composites are useful as degradable biomaterials, biomedical materials, polymers, functional membranes, fibers, and fabrics [26]. 

Marchant RE, Johnson SD, Schneider BH, Agger MP, Anderson JM. A hydrophilic plasma polymerized film composite with potential application as an interface for biomaterials. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research 1990, 24, 1521-1537. 

India is now engaged in a broad spectrum of scientific research, both fundamental and applied, in Government, Universities and Private Research Establishments. In recent years there has been extraordinary success in developing new polymers, ceramics, composites, superconductors, nanomaterials, smart materials and biomaterials. Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering and Biomedical Research are some other fields in which India has started entering. 

Figure 19.14. Bulk modulus of dental composite vs. filler concentration. [Adapted, by pennission, from Jones D W, Rizkalla A S, J. Biomedical Materials Research (Applied Biomaterials), 33, No.2, 1996, 89-100.]...

Lee, Y.K. et al.. Changes of optical properties of dental nano-filled resin composites after curing and thermocycling. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B Applied Biomaterials, 2004. 71(1) 16-21. 

Surface characterization by spectroscopic techniques yields information on the functional groups and elemental composition on the surface of polymeric biomaterials. The most common spectroscopic tools used for biomedical polymers are X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) (diffuse reflectance and attenuated total internal reflectance modes). Each of these techniques is discussed in the succeeding text. 

A wide variety of natural and synthetic materials have been used for biomedical applications. These include polymers, ceramics, metals, carbons, natural tissues, and composite materials (1). Of these materials, polymers remain the most widely used biomaterials. Polymeric materials have several advantages which make them very attractive as biomaterials (2). They include their versatility, physical properties, ability to be fabricated into various shapes and structures, and ease in surface modification. The long-term use of polymeric biomaterials in blood is limited by surface-induced thrombosis and biomaterial-associated infections (3,4). Thrombus formation on biomaterial surface is initiated by plasma protein adsorption followed by adhesion and activation of platelets (5,6). Biomaterial-associated infections occur as a result of the adhesion of bacteria onto the surface (7). The biomaterial surface provides a site for bacterial attachment and proliferation. Adherent bacteria are covered by a biofilm which supports bacterial growth while protecting them from antibodies, phagocytes, and antibiotics (8). Infections of vascular grafts, for instance, are usually associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Escherichia coli. Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphyloccocus epidermidis (9). 

Patents over the last few years dealing with BNC biomedical applications illustrate the scientific advances herein reviewed, such as uses of BNC in composite materials for use in osseous tissue support material, blood vessel prosthesis, artificial skin, cartilage-like biomaterial, implan Czaja support material used for cornea, cartilage connective tissue and ligament repair cement for fixing bones, etc. [54]. 

The biological and biomedical applications of graphene and its derivatives are currently of great interest and have been reviewed in de-tail. Li and Mezzenga have recently reviewed the interaction of amyloid fibrils with carbon nanomaterials such as graphene, extending the scope of biomedical applications and composite biomaterials, indeed, the supramolecular self-assembly of carbonaceous nanomaterials by biomolecules is now a possibility. ... 

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