Innovations in Biomaterials: Achievements and Opportunities
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Innovations in
Biomaterials: Achievements and Opportunities Rebecca M. Bergman
Abstract This article is an edited transcript based on a presentation given by Rebecca M. Bergman (Medtronic Inc.) as part of Symposium X—Frontiers of Materials Research on November 30, 2004, at the Materials Research Society Fall Meeting in Boston. Materials innovations have been at the heart of many important advances in implantable medical devices. Miniaturization, improved durability and longevity, enhanced biocompatibility, and controlled delivery are several areas where materials innovations have been important in advancing medical products and therapies. The demands on materials used in the physiological environment are stringent and include requirements related to materials properties as well as safety, quality, and reliability. Looking ahead, materials will undoubtedly continue to be an enabling technology for future innovations in medicine, including novel therapies such as tissue engineering, cell therapy, and gene therapy. Keywords: biocompatibility, biomaterials, materials characterization, molecular medicine, tissue engineering.
medical implants, including mending fractures in long bones. It was not until the 1700s that extensive medical use of metallic devices began, particularly for bone reconstruction. In that era, it was difficult to distinguish between “good” or “bad” materials because almost everything implanted in the body became infected. It was not until the 1860s, after Lister introduced aseptic surgical techniques, that the performance of biomaterials could be studied in a way that was not complicated by the presence of infection. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, orthopedics advanced rapidly, and medical professionals experimented with many different metals for orthopedic implants. The first plastics were used in 1937, in particular, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). PMMA was used initially in dental prostheses and then in ophthalmics for intraocular lenses. For ophthalmic applications, PMMA has proven to be an excellent material. Even today, it is still the clearest, most transparent plastic material used in the body. In the mid-1940s, PMMA was also used for orthopedic applications. Biodegradable materials did not enter the commercial market until the 1960s. Sutures made from polyglycolic acid were the first medical application of materials designed to biodegrade after implant. This briefly summarizes the beginnings and early history of biomaterials, a period dedicated almost exclusively to identifying and testing inert and durable materials for use in the body.
Later Developments in Biomaterials
Introduction In this presentation, I am addressing innovations in biomaterials and their impact on product development in the medical device industry. Following an overview of the history of biomaterials, I will showcase several classical innovations in this field. It is useful to begin with a working definition of biomaterials. In general terms, biomaterials refer to materials used in medical devices. While this
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