How Are Biomaterials Used in Current Medical Practice

How are biomaterials used in current medical
practice?
Doctors, researchers, and bioengineers use biomaterials for the following broad
range of applications:
 Medical implants, including heart valves, stents, and grafts; artificial

joints, ligaments, and tendons; hearing loss implants; dental implants;
and devices that stimulate nerves.
 Methods to promote healing of human tissues, including sutures, clips,

and staples for wound closure, and dissolvable dressings.
 Regenerated human tissues, using a combination of biomaterial

supports or scaffolds, cells, and bioactive molecules. Examples include a
bone regenerating hydrogel and a lab-grown human bladder.
 Molecular probes and nanoparticles that break through biological

barriers and aid in cancer imaging and therapy at the molecular level.
 Biosensors to detect the presence and amount of specific substances and

to transmit that data. Examples are blood glucose monitoring devices
and brain activity sensors.
 Drug-delivery systems that carry and/or apply drugs to a disease target.

Examples include drug-coated vascular stents and implantable
chemotherapy wafers for cancer patients.
Biomaterials designed for function

Bioengineers measure the function of a biomaterial by how well it performs a
specific action and how it will be used. A wound healing system must promote skin
growth and blood vessel formation. Bone replacement material must support cell
attachment and facilitate bone growth.
A new family of fibrous protein systems

Stem cells are not specialized, so they have the potential to transition into any
specific kind of cell under the right conditions. Biomaterials can be used to
control stem cell fate and function. NIBIB-funded researchers are working to
combine silk with tropoelastin, a highly elastic and dynamic structural protein to
construct a panel of protein biomaterials. These materials must mimic the
elasticity of diverse tissue structures and, consequently, control biological
function, particularly the differentiation of stem cells.
A patch for use as a lung sealant

Sealants and patches made from biomaterials allow damaged tissue to regenerate
and heal. NIBIB-funded researchers are exploring the use of alginate, derived from
brown algae, as a sealant and therapeutic patch to treat lung leaks resulting from
surgery, injury, or conditions such as pneumonia and cystic fibrosis. After the
alginate is freeze-dried, it is applied to the wound and rehydrated from the body’s
own water. Preliminary tests are promising, showing the patch can withstand lung-
like pressures, effectively treat lung leaks, and aid in lung tissue regeneration.
Smart wound dressing for treating chronic diabetic ulcers
Patients with diabetic ulcers that don’t heal experience decreased quality of life,
infections, amputations, and death. NIBIB researchers are developing a smart
wound dressing that can deliver oxygen and blood-vessel-promoting biochemical
factors while monitoring healing. Combining electronics, wound healing,
microfabrication, biomaterials, and drug delivery, the dressing
integrates sensors and actuators in close contact to skin. It is expected to promote
healing while reducing unnecessary dressing replacements and visits to medical
facilities.
Laser welding and repair of ruptured tissues

One quarter of patients who undergo surgery to rejoin segments of their colon
experience subsequent wound site leakage. NIBIB-funded researchers are pursuing
a laser-welding technique for colon repair as an alternative to suturing or stapling.
The procedure uses photothermal nanocomposites—nano-sized material and gold
rods embedded in a matrix that when heated with a laser can fuse with ruptured
tissues.
A hydrogel for burns dissolves as it promotes wound healing.
Dissolvable dressing for the treatment of burns

Burn patients experience acute pain when undergoing dressing removal. Current
clinically approved dressings stick to the wound surface, traumatizing newly
formed tissue and delaying healing. NIBIB-funded researchers are developing a
hydrogel dressing that will automatically dissolve, provide a barrier to infection,
and promote healing. By dissolving into safe by-products in a controlled way, the
hydrogel will permit on-demand dressing removal and re-exposure of the wound
without the need for mechanical debridement and cutting, resulting in easier, less
traumatic treatment.
Dissolvable zinc stents

Metal stents are commonly used to keep blood vessels open, but stents can cause
long-term complications, including re-narrowing of the vessel, blood clots, and
bleeding. NIBIB-funded researchers are developing a bio-absorbable zinc stent that
harmlessly erodes away over time, minimizing the normal chronic risks associated
with permanent stents. Early testing with absorbable zinc stents have been
promising.
Self-sufficient power supply for implantable biomedical devices

A biomedical device lasts only as long as its battery. NIBIB-funded researchers aim
to overcome that limitation by harvesting energy from the human body to power
implantable biomedical devices. They are currently exploring
innovative nanotechnology to develop ultrathin, lightweight, stretchable, and bio-
compatible membranes. The membranes can efficiently and discreetly convert
mechanical energy generated within the human body to electrical energy, resulting
in a self-sufficient power supply.

How Are Biomaterials Used in Current Medical Practice

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

How Are Biomaterials Used in Current Medical Practice

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

How Are Biomaterials Used in Current Medical Practice

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

How are biomaterials used in current medical

 Medical implants, including heart valves, stents, and grafts; artificial

 Methods to promote healing of human tissues, including sutures, clips,

 Regenerated human tissues, using a combination of biomaterial

 Molecular probes and nanoparticles that break through biological

 Biosensors to detect the presence and amount of specific substances and

 Drug-delivery systems that carry and/or apply drugs to a disease target.

Biomaterials designed for function

A new family of fibrous protein systems

A patch for use as a lung sealant

Smart wound dressing for treating chronic diabetic ulcers

Laser welding and repair of ruptured tissues

Dissolvable dressing for the treatment of burns

Dissolvable zinc stents

Self-sufficient power supply for implantable biomedical devices

You might also like