第45章要点_双语.docVIP

Chapter 13 Biomaterials 13.1 Introduction Biomaterials are materials used in medicine and dentistry that are intended to come in contact with living tissue. The familiar tooth filling is where most humans first encounter biomaterials but increasingly many people now rely on more critical implants such as joint replacements, particularly hips, and cardiovascular repairs. Undoubtedly, these biomaterial implants improve the quality of life for an increasing number of people each year, not just for an ageing population with greater life expectancy, but for younger people with heart problems, injuries or inherited diseases. Biomaterials have now been successfully developed and used for more than a generation. First-generation biomaterials largely depended on being inert, or relatively inert, with minimal tissue response. All the materials proved relatively bioinert and gave an average life time of 10 years or more. 13.2 Requirements for biomaterials The requirements for a biomaterial are extremely demanding. Replacement or repair of a body feature, tissue, organ or function often necessitates the material used to have specialized mechanical, physical and chemical properties. However, the very first requirement is biocompatibility with the human body, i.e. the ability of the material to perform with an appropriate host response. For the successful use of the biomaterial, consideration has to be given to the appropriate material selection, engineering design and manufacturing process. While proper design and manufacture is essential, it is particularly important to select the correct material to provide the appropriate properties as well as being biocompatible, recognizing that the combined influence of mechanical and chemical factors can be quite serious. It is also important to recognize that the biological environment is not constant and that oxygen levels, availability of free radicals and cellular activity will vary. Corrosion and degradation can lead to loss