Surgical applications tissue engineering

Biodegradable polymers are receiving more and more attentions for their wide application in biomedical uses, such as drug carriers, matrices in tissue engineering, surgical sutures, etc (1). 

P(3HB-co-4HB) copolymers are known to be biocompatible material. The biocompatible nature of these copolymers allows it to be utilized for various medical applications. These PHA polymers have been tested in tissue engineering applications as surgical sutures, bone plates, implants, gauzes, osteosynthetic materials, and also as matrix material assisting slow release of drugs and hormones (Zinn et al. 2001 Williams and Martin 2002 Sudesh 2004 Chen and Wu 2005 Freier 2006). Recently, electrospun nanofibers of P(3HB-co-4HB) have been evaluated as scaffolds in vivo and in vitro (Ying et al. 2008). 

Biomedical textiles for orthopaedic and surgical appUcations fundamentals, applications and tissue engineering... 

Tissue engineering Nerve regeneration Mimicking blood vessels Drug release applications Coating of metallic stents Surgical glue... 

This is an edited volume containing 23 chapters. Three chapters deal with biomaterials in general, 6 chapters address specific blood and tissue interactions with biomaterials, 10 chapters address the use of biomaterials in specific surgical disciplines, and 3 chapters address tissue engineering and genetic manipulation of cells. The reference list for each chapter is extensive. This is an excellent overview of how biomaterials interact with the host and the specific use of biomaterials in indicated applications. 

---