Biomaterials

With the critical advances in material science and bioengineering, the clinical availability of biomaterials is rapidly expanding. Biomaterials are used to restore or correct function of tissues that have been modified by injury, malformation, pathology, or aging. Materials used in contact with living tissues should meet the criteria of biocompatibility, which are (1) biosafety, (2) biofunctionality, and (3) biointegration. Depending on the function they are asked to perform and the target tissue, the choice is among nonresorbable or resorbable biomaterials, metallic or polymeric, and natural or synthetic. Although some materials such as titanium are able to osteointegrate inducing minimal scarring at the interface with living tissues, it seems that a common limitation across all biomaterials is to induce some extent of foreign body reaction and scar encapsulation, which affects negatively the function of the device. Novel surface technologies at the micro- or nano-scale and advanced biomaterials will improve the biointegration of medical devices and allow for permanent implantation of functional biomaterials.   This review contains 9 figures, 9 tables and 63 references Key Words: biocompatibility, biofilm, biofunctionality, biointegration, biomaterials, encapsulation, foreign body reaction, wound healing