Basic requirements for biomedical materials

Biomedical materials are a class of materials with special properties and functions that can be used for artificial organs, surgical repairs, physical therapy and rehabilitation, diagnosis and treatment of diseases without adversely affecting human tissues. Nowadays, various synthetic materials and natural polymer materials.

Biomedical materials refers to a class of materials with special properties and functions, which can be used for artificial organs, surgical repair, physical therapy and rehabilitation, diagnosis and disease treatment without adversely affecting human tissues. Nowadays, a variety of synthetic and natural polymer materials, metal and alloy materials, ceramic and carbon materials and a variety of composite materials, and their manufactured products have been widely used in clinical and scientific research.

Classification of biomedical materials

Usually, clinical medicine has the following basic requirements for biomedical materials: non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, non-teratogenic, and will not cause sudden cell death and tissue cell reaction; good compatibility with human tissues, will not cause poisoning, hemolysis, coagulation, fever, and allergies; stable chemical properties, resistance to body fluids, blood and enzymes; physical and mechanical properties compatible with natural tissues; specific for different purposes. Functionality.

Based on material properties, biomedical materials can be broadly categorized as follows:

1. Biomedical metallic materials Biomedical metallic materials are metals or alloys used as biomedical materials. They have high mechanical strength and fatigue resistance. Alloys (Co-Cr-Ni), titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) and stainless steel are used for artificial joints and bones. Nickel-titanium shape memory alloys have intelligent properties of shape memory and can be used in orthopedics and cardiovascular surgery.

2. Biomedical Polymer Materials Biomedical polymers are available in both natural and synthetic forms, with the fastest growth being in synthetic polymer medical materials. Through molecular design, many biomaterials with good physical and mechanical properties and biocompatibility can be obtained. Among them, soft materials are often used as replacements for human soft tissues, such as blood vessels, esophagus and knuckles. Synthetic rigid materials can be used as artificial dura mater, spherical valves for caged artificial heart valves, etc. Silicone rubber is used as an injectable tissue repair material.

3. Biomedical inorganic non-metallic materials or bioceramics (biomedical ceramics) are chemically stable and have good biocompatibility. Bioceramics include two main categories: (1) inert bioceramics (e.g., alumina, medical carbon materials, etc.) with high strength, good wear resistance and strong molecular bonding strength. (2) Bioactive ceramics (e.g. hydroxyapatite, bioactive glass, etc.), with the characteristics of gradual degradation and absorption in the physiological environment, or the formation of stable chemical bonds with living organisms, and therefore have extremely broad application prospects. Prospects.

4. Biomedical composites Biomedical composites are biomedical materials composed of two or more different materials. They are mainly used to repair or replace human tissues, organs or enhance their functions and artificial organs. Manufacturing. Among them, titanium alloys and polyethylene tissue prostheses are commonly used as joint materials. Titanium carbide synthetic materials are artificial femoral heads with good clinical applications; polymer materials can be combined with biopolymers (e.g., enzymes, antigens, antibodies, hormones, etc.) as biosensors.

5. Biomedical Derived Materials (BDM) are biomedical materials formed from specially treated natural biological tissues. They are biologically inactive materials, but due to their structural and functional similarity to natural tissues, they play an important role in tissue repair and replacement, and are mainly used as skin masks, hemodialysis membranes, and artificial heart valves.

Key Products in the Global Biomedical Materials Market

Currently, there are 20 major types of biomedical materials used in medical devices (implantable devices, extracorporeal circulatory systems, etc.), including 12 medical polymers, 4 metals, 2 ceramics, and 2 other types. Nearly 300 types of medical implants and artificial organs have been developed and applied using existing biomedical materials, mainly including: heart and cardiovascular systems (pacemakers, heart valves, artificial blood vessels, catheters and shunts, etc.); orthopedics (internal fixation devices, such as artificial joints, bone plates, bone screws, fillers or repairs of bone defects, spine and spinal fusion devices, functional simulated neuromuscular and Artificial joint cartilage, etc.); Plastic surgery (cranial, maxillofacial, ear, nose and other prostheses as well as artificial breasts, etc.); Soft tissue prosthetics (artificial urinary tracts, artificial bladders and intestines, internal and external shunts, artificial tracheas, sutures and tissue-integrated restorative materials, etc.); Dentistry (dental implants, alveolar replacements, augmentations and fillings, etc.); Sensory-neurological systems (artificial lenses, contact lenses, nerve (artificial lenses, contact lenses, nerve conduits, middle ear prostheses, percutaneous leads, hearing and vision prostheses, etc.); and controlled release carriers for drugs and biologically active substances, among others.