What is a biomaterial’s “lifespan?” Biomaterials may be designed to interact with living tissue temporarily, such as sutures, or on a more long-term basis such as pacemakers. Some biomaterials are intended primarily for monitoring and evaluation purposes. For example, biosensors can identify and measure specific substances and transmit that information to a doctor. These include brain activity sensors and blood glucose monitors.
Other types of biomaterials include:
- Medical implants: Stents, grafts, heart valves, artificial joints and dental implants
- Drug-delivery systems: Implantable chemotherapy wafers and drug-coated stents
- Healing supports: Staples, dissolvable dressings, sutures and clips
- Regenerated biomaterials: Bone regenerating hydrogel and lab-grown human organs
Biomaterials can be natural or synthetic and can be made from all sorts of ingredients, including the following:
A wide range of metals are used as biological materials, including stainless steel, titanium and gold. Metal biomaterials can be used for various applications, including dental implants (e.g., titanium posts) and artificial joints.
Inorganic glass-based biomaterials, which may be made from silicates, rare earth and other materials, can be used in medical imaging technology. They can also be used in bone tissue engineering and for some dental work.
Ceramic biomaterials are characterized by hardness and wear resistance, which make them ideal for use in joint replacements and other types of implants, including bone implants. However, their brittleness must be taken into account when used in load-bearing applications.
Compared to many other biomaterials, polymers (most often medical-grade plastics) are quite cost-effective and have good chemical stability. Polymer-based biomaterials are used in applications like wound dressings, vascular grafts and catheters.
Some biomaterials may be used as vehicles to introduce regenerative materials into the body. These cell-laden biomaterials can be created in vitro and then implanted for the purpose of not only temporarily restoring function but also regenerating and healing living human tissue over time.
