Biomaterials synthetic polymers

Biomaterials for Cardiovascular Devices. Perhaps the most advanced field of biomaterials is that for cardiovascular devices. For several decades bodily parts have been replaced or repaired by direct substitution using natural tissue or selected synthetic materials. The development of implantable-grade synthetic polymers, such as siHcones and polyurethanes, has made possible the development of advanced cardiac assist devices (see... 

Teramura Y, Kaneda Y, Totani T et al (2008) Behavior of synthetic polymers immobilized on a cell membrane. Biomaterials 29 1345-1355... 

The enormous temperatures attained on resistively heated sample holders can also be used to intentionally enforce the decomposition of non-volatile samples, thereby yielding characteristic pyrolysis products. Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (Py-MS) can be applied to synthetic polymers, [54] fossil biomaterial, [55] food [56] and soil [57] analysis and even to characterize whole bacteria. [58]... 

In recent years, protein-based linear [17] and block [39] copolymers have been investigated for use as novel biomaterials. Their biggest advantage over synthetic polymers is the possibility to produce macromolecules... 

The increasing demand for synthetic biomaterials, especially polymers, is mainly due to their availability in a wide variety of chemical compositions and physical properties, their ease of fabrication into complex shapes and structures, and their easily tailored surface chemistries. Although the physical and mechanical performance of most synthetic biomaterials can meet or even exceed that of natural tissue (see Table 5.15), they are often rejected by a number of adverse effects, including the promotion of thrombosis, inflammation, and infection. As described in Section 5.5, biocompatibility is believed to be strongly influenced, if not dictated, by a layer of host proteins and cells spontaneously adsorbed to the surfaces upon their implantation. Thus, surface properties of biomaterials, such as chemistry, wettability, domain structure, and morphology, play an important role in the success of their applications. 

Physical or physico-chemical capability (Table 1), including mechanical strength, permeation, or sieving characteristics, is another important requirement of biomaterials. Cuprammonium rayon, for instance, maintains its dominant position as the most popular material for hemodialysis (artificial kidney). Thanks to its good mechanical strength, cuprarayon can be fabricated into much thinner membranes than synthetic polymer membranes as a consequence, much better clearance of low-molecular-weight solutes is achieved. 

Watanabe S, Kato H, Shimizu Y et al. (1981) Antibacterial biomaterials by immobilization of hen egg-white lysozyme onto collagen-synthetic polymer composites - histological-findings of immobilized lysozyme in the tissue of a different species. Artif Organs 5 309-309... 

Willits, R. K., and Saltzman, W. M. (2001), Synthetic polymers alter the structure of cervical mucus, Biomaterials, 22,445-452. 

Lastly we examine attempts to design structures for particular functions, namely, films that act as barriers and capsules that contain bioactive substances. In the future, we will need to create novelty in the long-term stability of products and delivery of specific molecules for a health benefit. These technologies are attracting attention not only from the food industry but also for nonfood use. Sustainable and environmentally friendly attributes of biomaterials are increasingly discussed, compared to petrochemically derived, synthetic polymers and plastics. For once, food materials scientists can teach other industries the rules of the game. ... 

Chen YM, Shiraishi N, Satokawa H. Kakugo A. Narita T, Gong JP, Osada Y, Yamamoto K, Ando J (2005) Cultivation of endothelial ceUs on adhesive protein free synthetic polymer gels. Biomaterials 26 4588-4596... 

Journal of Biomaterials Science—Polymer Edition. The Netherlands VSP International Science Publishers. ISSN 0920-5063. Deals with both synthetic and natural polymers primarily focused on fundamental biomaterials research. 

Marketsandmarkets (2012) Bio-Implants Cardiovascular, Spine, Orthopedics, Trauma, Dental Ceramics, Biomaterial, Alloys, Polymers, Allo/Auto/Xenografts, Synthetic. Report code MD-1190, Press release, September 2012. 

Interest in biomedical applications of polymers dates back over 50 years. This interest is due in part to the fact that most biomaterials present in the human body are macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, etc.). When tissues or organs containing such materials need complete or partial replacement, it is logical to replace them with synthetic polymeric materials whenever natural replacement materials are not readily available. Although ceramics and metals can be used in certain cases, most biomedical applications require the use of some synthetic polymer or a modified natural macromolecule. Several recent books describe the range of biomedical applications of polymers (2-12). 

Biomedical materials include metals, ceramics, natural polymers (biopolymers), and synthetic polymers of simple or complex chemical and/or physical structure. This volume addresses, to a large measure, fundamental research on phenomena related to the use of synthetic polymers as blood-compatible biomaterials. Relevant research stems from major efforts to investigate clotting phenomena related to the response of blood in contact with polymeric surfaces, and to develop systems with nonthrombogenic behavior in short- and long-term applications. These systems can be used as implants or replacements, and they include artificial hearts, lung oxygenators, hemodialysis systems, artificial blood vessels, artificial pancreas, catheters, etc. 

In this book, a large number of biomaterials are reported. These include polypeptides/proteins, carbohydrates, lipids/triglycerides and synthetic polymers. In addition, it is understood that many of the polymeric materials involved in all the chapters can potentially be used as biomaterials although they may not be specified as such. 

Ito et al (16) used combinatorial bioengineering methods to produce new biomaterials based on amino acids, nucleic acid, and non-natural components. In a different way, Silvestri et al (7) produced biomaterials by combining enzymes with synthetic polymers some examples were combinations of a-amylase with poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethylene glycol), and poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate). Jong (9) used soy protein as a reinforcement material in elastomers and observed an increase in the rubber modulus. 

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