Introduction to Biomaterials

and Implants
School of Biomedical Engineering
JIT, JU

Tewodros Belay (MSc.)

March 2022 1
Unit objectives:
After completion of this unit students be able to:
• Define Biomaterials, Biological materials, Implant materials, & Artificial
materials
• Describe the ultimate goal of biomaterial in the health industries
• List fields of knowledge required to develop biomaterials
• Discus the uses of biomaterials, and biomaterials in organ
• Describe historical background of biomaterials

March 2022 2
Group activities
• Be in group (a maximum of 7 in number)
• Discuss and present to the class on the following terms:
Biomaterials
Biological materials
Artificial materials
Implant materials

March 2022 3
 Introduction
Biomaterials:
• are used to make devices to replace a part or a function of the body in a
safe, reliable, economic, and physiologically acceptable manner.
• Are synthetic materials used to replace part of a living system or to
function in intimate contact with living tissue.
• A variety of devices and materials are used in the treatment of disease
or injury.
• Biomaterials engineering: is concerned with the application of
biomaterials science in the design and engineering aspects of medical
devices’ fabrication.
March 2022 4
 Introduction
.

What do you understand from the above figures?

March 2022 5
Cntd…

March 2022 6
Cntd…
Biological materials:
• Are materials produced by a biological system or living organisms
(such as bone, skin, or artery, and organic materials).
Artificial materials:
• Are materials that have direct contact with the skin (such as hearing
aids and wearable artificial limbs)
Implant materials:
• Foreign material that placed within a living body with a maximum level
of biocompatibility (though complete compatibility is not achieved)
March 2022 7
Cntd..
Ultimate goal of Biomaterials:

• To improve human health by restoring the function of natural

living tissues and organs in the body.

• Studying of biomaterials can be visualised by three aspects:

 biological materials,
 implant materials,
 interaction between the two in the body.

March 2022 8
Cntd..
Fields of Knowledge to Develop Biomaterials

Science and engineering: (Materials Science)

• Metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, tissues (blood and connective
tissues), etc.

Biology and Physiology:

• Cell and molecular biology, anatomy, animal and human physiology,

Clinical Sciences:
• Density, maxillofacial, neurosurgery, obstetrics and gynecology,
ophthalmology, orthopedics, plastic and reconstructive surgery,
thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, veterinary medicine and surgery, etc.
March 2022 9
Cntd…
The success of a biomaterial or an implant is highly dependent on
three major factors::
• The properties and biocompatibility* of the implant
• The health condition of the recipient,
• The competency of the surgeon who implants and monitors its progress.

Biocompatibility: the property of a material being compatible with

living tissue.
Biocompatible materials: do not produce a toxic or immunological
response when exposed to the body or bodily fluids.

March 2022 10
Design Factors for Biomaterials
• Surgeons and engineers identified materials and design problems that
resulted in premature loss of implant function through mechanical
failure, or inadequate biocompatibility (corrosion) of the
component.

• Key factors in a biomaterial usage are its

biocompatibility,
biofunctionality,
availability to a lesser extent.

March 2022 11
Uses of Biomaterials
Uses of Biomaterials Examples
Replacement of diseased and damaged Artificial hip implant, kidney dialysis
parts machine
Assist in healing Sutures, bone plates & screws
Improve function Cardiac pacemaker, intra-ocular lens
Correct function abnormalities Cardiac pace maker
Correct cosmetic problem Mastectomy & chin augmentation
Aids to diagnosis Probes and catheters
Aids to treatment Probes and drains

March 2022 12
Biomaterials in organs
Organ Example
Cardiac pacemaker, artificial heart valve,
Heart
totally artificial heart
Lung Oxy-generator machine
Eye Contact lens, intra-ocular lens
Ear Artificial stapes, cochlear implants
Bone Bone plates, intra-medullary rod
kidney Kidney dialysis machine
Bladder catheter and stent

March 2022 13
Historical background of biomaterials
• Some of the earliest biomaterial applications were applied on loose
teeth were bound together with gold wires for tying artificial ones
to neighbouring teeth.
• In the early 1900’s bone plates were successfully implemented to
stabilise bone fractures and to accelerate their healing.
• While by the time of the 1950’s to 60’s, blood vessel replacement
were in clinical trials and artificial heart valves and hip joints were in
development.

March 2022 14
March 2022 15