4 Medical applications

Publication date: 2018
Source:Biodegradable and Biocompatible Polymer Composites
Author(s): Ivan Djordjevic, Samira Hosseini, José I. Gómez Quiñones
Interfacial properties of synthetic, biodegradable composite materials are of crucial importance for clinical outcome of fabricated medical implants, tissue engineering scaffolds, and drug delivery carriers. In this chapter we outline selected types of synthetic composite biomaterials with specific fillers dispersed into polymer matrices. By definition, the choice of both polymer and filler components, together with unavoidable release of biodegradation products in tissue proximity, would have significant implications on physiological environment and tissue regeneration at tissue–biomaterial interface. In addition, careful choice of composite components will determine immunological response on surgical implantation. This chapter explains some fundamental aspects of composite biomaterials in regard to their clinical performance from the recent studies. A new aspects and strategies for biological activation of fillers by protein surface attachment are highlighted in separate sections in this chapter. At the end of the chapter we explain a novel type of polymer composite hydrogels, called "double networks" or "interpenetrated networks" with their unique properties and their potential for fabrication of new generation biomedical devices with high degree of control over material properties.



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