Implants, artificial, engineered

Polymers are the most versatile class of biomaterials, being extensively used in biomedical applications such as contact lenses, pharmaceutical vehicles, implantation, artificial organs, tissue engineering, medical devices, prostheses, and dental materials [1-3]. This is all due to the unique properties of polymers that created an entirely new concept when originally proposed as biomaterials. For the first time, a material performing a structural application was designed to be completely resorbed and become weaker over time. This concept was applied for the... 

These terms may prove helpful in searching a MeSH library catalog Biocompatible materials. Biomechanics, Bioethics, Biomedical and dental materials. Biomedical engineering. Biotechnology-instrumentation, Implants/artificial, Image processing. Computer-assisted methods. Medical informatics. Nanotechnology, Polymers. 

Semlitsch, M., and Willert, H. G., Properties of Implant alloys for Artificial Hip Joints , Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing, 18, 511-520 (1980)... 

While the mechanical performance of artificial materials in the human body can be predicted with some rehabihty, forecasting their biological performance is difficnlt. The problem of interactions at surfaces has already been mentioned. Research frontiers also include developing ways to simulate in vivo processes in vitro and extending the power and apphcability of such simulations to allow for better prediction of the performance of biomedical materials and devices in the patient. Fundamental information on the correlation between the in vivo and in vitro responses is limited. Chemical engineers might also make contribntions to the problem of noninvasive monitoring of implanted materials. 

The conclusion drawn from the above-discussed features of native endothelium is that—where feasible—construction of host endothelium on the surface of synthetic implants—i.e. engineered endothelialization—may present a promising pathway for fundamentally resolving the biocompatibility and bio-functionality of artificial cardiovascular transplantation. This proposed biocompatibility is, however, not simply thromboresistance (or blood compatibility) plus blood-cell compatibility, but a real bioactive, self-renewable and specifically functional alliance of tissues and synthetics. 

Surface-engineered endothelialization for artificial cardiovascular implants can be achieved either by allogenic EC seeding or inducing host EC reoccupation. These two strategies may work separately or in coordination. 

Engineering plastics, particularly thermosets, are also used in composite materials. Their excellent technological properties make them suitable for applications in cars, ships, aircraft, telecommunications equipment, etc. In recent years, important new areas of application for plastics have emerged in medicine (fabrication of artificial organs, orthopaedic implants, and devices for the controlled release of drugs), electronics (development of conductive poly-... 

Fig. 1 Cellular (top left) and acellular (bottom left) tissue engineering approaches. Matrix materials are implanted into patient and act as an artificial ECM for cells to infiltrate, adhere, proliferate, and differentiate, and finally to guide repair and regeneration (modified from [5])...

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