Biomedical composites applications

Particulate reinforcement in biomedical composites is used widely for ceramic matrices in dental and bone-analogue applications. The most common such particle form is hydroxyapatite, a natural component of bone where it exists in a composite structure with collagen. Hydroxyapatite particles have very poor mechanical properties and may serve more as a bioactive than reinforcement component. 

Synthetic Biomedical Composites and Their Bioactivity 443 Table 22.2 Bioactive fillers used in tissue engineering applications. 

To improve collagen s potential as a biomaterial, it has been modified or combined with other resorbable polymers. Modifications like cross-linking, addition of bioactive molecules, and enzymatic pretreatment have resulted in novel coUagen-based materials with improved fimctionality [10, 11]. Moreover, to facilitate the formation of fibers for biomedical textile applications, composite materials combining coUagen with other resorbable polymers like PLA, PLGA, and PCL have been studied extensively [12-15]. 

Improved characterization of the morphological/microstructural properties of porous solids, and the associated transport properties of fluids imbibed into these materials, is crucial to the development of new porous materials, such as ceramics. Of particular interest is the fabrication of so-called functionalized ceramics, which contain a pore structure tailored to a specific biomedical or industrial application (e.g., molecular filters, catalysts, gas storage cells, drug delivery devices, tissue scaffolds) [1-3]. Functionalization of ceramics can involve the use of graded or layered pore microstructure, morphology or chemical composition. 

Wang, M., Hench, L.L. and Bonfield, W. (1998) Bioglass/high density polyethylene composite for soft tissue applications Preparation and evaluation. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 42, 577-586. 

Pandey AC, Sharma PK, Dutta RK (2007) Recent advances in biomedical applications of multifunctional composites. In Tiwari A (ed) Recent developments in bio-nanocomposites for biomedical applications.Nova Science, Hauppauge, pp 409-432... 

Polysulfone hollow fibers, composite, 76 17 Polysulfone membranes, 75 811 Polysulfones, 70 202-204 properties of, 70 204t Polysulfone ultrafiltration hollow-fiber membrane, 76 4 Polyfsulfonic acid)s, 23 717-725 biomedical applications of, 23 722-723 uses for, 23 717... 

A. A. White, S. M. Best, I. A. Kinloch, Hydroxyapatite-carbon nanotube composites for biomedical applications A review, International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, vol. 4, pp. 1-13, 2007. 

We chose to modify the anhydride monomers with photopolymerizable methacrylate functionalities. Methacrylate-based polymers have a long history in biomedical applications, ranging from photocured dental composites [20] to thermally cured bone cements [21]. Furthermore, photopolymerizations provide many advantages for material handling and processing, including spatial and temporal control of the polymerization and rapid rates at ambient temperatures. Liquid or putty-like monomer/initiator... 

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