Composite biomaterials

Composite materials or biomaterials are those that contain two or more distinct constituent materials or phases, on a microscopic, macroscopic size scale or on a scale larger than the atomic. Composite biomaterials offer a variety of advantages in comparison with homogeneous ones such as enhancement in mechanical, chemical, electrical and biological properties. However, in the context of biomaterials, it is important that each constituent of the composite be biocompatible, and that the interface between constituents not be degraded by the body environment in unpredictable manner. Traditional composites currently used in biomaterial applications include dental filling composites; bone particle or carbon fiber reinforced methyl methacrylate bone cement and ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene; and porous surface orthopedic implants. Moreover, rubber used in catheters, rubber gloves, etc. is usually filled with very fine particles of silica to make the rubber stronger and tougher. Since body tissues such as bone, dentin, cartilage, and skin are natural composite therefore tissue engineering requires scaffolds that mimic their nature in chemical and mechanical properties using composite scaffolds which have been developed recently and will be discussed in this talk

Keywords:

Composite , Biomaterial applications , Tissue engineering