The field of biomaterials has been growing forever. It has become more and more advanced over the years, and it is just going to keep growing. There are many uses for it now, such as creating fake skin, making new forms of contact lenses, creating stronger valves that come in and out of the heart, etc. This is an area where so much can be done in the years to come, such as making lives better for some people, finding a cure for devastating diseases like cancer, and most importantly saving people’s lives. Biomaterials will play an important role in the future because it has grown so much throughout history, and the more recent research and engineering being done to improve the world we live in; however, the best part is the different materials being developed and their uses that are to come.
First off, biomaterials have had a drastic increase in how much research is being done and how far they have come with actually coming out with materials that will benefit the population. The actual definition for a biomaterial is, “Any nondrug material that can be used to treat, enhance or replace any tissue, organ, or function in an organism” (Ige, Umoru, & Aribo, 2012). It is a very complicated field of study as one can tell from the definition. They can date back to the beginning of mankind. Some of the first recorded forms of biomaterials date back to Ancient Egypt, where they would use inserts in their mouth as fake teeth. We still do this today, except we are far more advanced now. We have the ability to create a fake tooth with properties that would make it almost real. “Humankind’s use of materials to augment or repair the body dates to antiquity, when natural materials such as wood were used in an attempt to structurally replace tiss...
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Huebsch, N., & Mooney, D. J. (2009). Inspiration and application in the evolution of biomaterials. Nature, 462(7272), 426-32. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/204557674?accountid=11137
Ige, O. O., Umoru, L. E., & Aribo, S. (2012). Natural Products: A Minefield of Biomaterials. ISRN Materials Science, 1-20. doi:10.5402/2012/983062
Rai, R., Barbhuyan, T., Singh, C., Mittal, M., Khan, M., Sinha, N., & Chattopadhyay, N. (2013). Total Water, Phosphorus Relaxation and Inter-Atomic Organic to Inorganic Interface Are New Determinants of Trabecular Bone Integrity. Plos ONE, 8(12), 1-10. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0083478
Sriwiriyanont, P., Lynch, K. A., McFarland, K. L., Supp, D. M., & Boyce, S. T. (2013). Characterization of Hair Follicle Development in Engineered Skin Substitutes. Plos ONE, 8(6), 1-9. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065664
At the moment, the main objective for scientists and engineers is to develop surgery into a minimal invasive method and nanote...
Alumina and zirconia ceramics have been widely used in orthopaedic hip replacements for the past 30 years. The advantage of using these was lower wear rates than those observed using polymers and metals. Because of the ionic bonds and chemical stability of ceramics, they are relatively biocompatible and therefore more preferable to use than metals and polymers. Alumina is most commonly used as a femoral head component instead of a metal in a hip prosthesis because this would reduce the polyethylene wear that is generated. Alumina is a desirable biomaterial to use in hard tissue implants because of characteristics like excellent wear resistance, high hardness, bio inert, low abrasion rate and good frictional behaviour. Furthermore, it has excellent surface finish as well as high fatigue streng...
Osteoporosis is a condition, which advances with age, resulting in fragile, weak bones due to a decrease in bone mass. Externally osteoporotic bone is shaped like normal bone, however it’s internal appearance differs. Internally the bone becomes porous due to a loss in essential minerals, including phosphate and calcium. The minerals are loss more quickly than they can be replaced and in turn cause the bones to become less dense and weak. The bones become prone to fracture, due to their weakness. Therefore the awareness of the disease tends to occur after a fracture has been sustained. The bones most commonly affected are the ribs, wrist, pelvis and the vertebrae.
Normally, teeth stimulate the surrounding bone by compressive and tensile forces, these forces have a piezoelectric effect (which is the ability of a material to give an electric charge in response to mechanical stress) on the crystals and durapatite that synthesize the inorganic
The materials in prosthetic limbs have always evolved along side technology, usually changing for the better. Prior to the development of electronics and plastics,
These kinds of polymers have both some advantages and disadvantages. Although they are bioactive and biodegradable and provide high comppressive strength, Degradation of such polymers leads to undesired tissue response due to producing acid formation in degradation process. Metallic scaffolds are another method for bone repair and regenaration. They provide high compressive strength and enormous permanent strength. Metallic scaffolds are mainly made of titanium and talium metals. The main disadvantages of metallic scaffolds are not biodegradable and also discharge metal ions. Recent studies in metallic scaffolds mainly focus on biodegradable materials which can be used improve bioactivity of metals such as titanium.
Many great inventions have been made through research in biomedical engineering, for example, genetic engineering, cloning, and insulin. After insulin has been invented, there are still a lot of problems with the purity and the quantity of the insulin produced. Biomedical engineering devised a way to produce large quantities of insulin with a higher level of purity, which has saved a lot of human lives. Although biomedical engineering just been officially founded 200 years ago, its practice has been with us for centuries. According to The Whitaker Foundation website, 3,000-year-old mummy from Thebes, which uncovered by German archeologists, with a wooden prosthetic tied to its foot to serve as a big toe is the oldest known limb prosthesis and Egyptian listen to the internal of human anatomy using a hollow reed, which is what today’s stethoscope. No matter what the date, biomedical engineering has provided advances in medical technology to improve human health. These advances by biomedical engineering have created a significant impact to our lives. I have determined to become a biomedical engineer. Biomedical engineering will have a good prospect because it will become one of the most important careers in the future.
When approaching the topic of hair chemistry, one may think about the question, where does hair come from? Saclike holes called follicles are located all over the human body. At the bottom of these follicles are a cluster of papilla responsible for the growth of hair. As the papilla, otherwise known as hair bulbs reproduce to make new hair cells, the old ones are pushed up towards the surface of the skin causing the hair to grow longer. This may seem like a simple concept to grasp. However, the process of hair growth is a little more in depth.
The field of bioprinting, using 3D printing technology for producing live cells with extreme accuracy, could be the answer to many of the problems we as humans face in the medical field. It could be the end to organ waiting lists and an alternative for organ transplants. In 3D printing technology lies the potential to replace the testing of new drugs on animals. However, the idea of applying 3 dimensional printing to the health industry is still quite new and yet to have a major impact. Manufacturing working 3D organs remains an enormous challenge, but in theory could solve major issues present today.
Yang, W., Chen, I.H., Gludovatz, B., Zimmermann, E.A., Ritchie, R.O., Meyers, M.A. (2013). Natural Flexible Dermal Armor, ADVANCED MATERIALS, 25(1), 31-48. doi: 10.1002/adma.201202713
Cosmetic dentistry is a specialized field that deals with improving the aesthetics of teeth and the human face. The teeth are an important part of human beauty. Even minor damage to the teeth, such as breakage or loss can drastically alter the overall appearance of the face. This is where cosmetic dentistry comes in to restore beauty. Cosmetic dentistry has become a highly specialized branch due to various advancements in surgical procedures and diagnostic techniques. Several new materials have also been discovered. These materials are very close to the natural enamel and bone from which teeth are made and are virtually indistinguishable. Cosmetic dentistry is an option in conditions such as teeth loss, gaps between teeth, cracked or chipped teeth, cavities and dental
Biomechanical engineering is driven by needs similar to those of biomedical engineering. There is always a constant need to improve medical equipment while keeping it cost efficient. These are the two main needs for all biomedical engineers. Biomechanical engineering is specifically dedicated to applying the scientific of knowledge mechanical systems and engineering to biology and the human body. One of the many needs that drives this biomedical subfield is society’s need for more advanced equipment and machinery. Some recent advances show this need. In the last decade, biomechanical engineers have invented and innovated new robots and machines that can assist a surgeon in surgery or serve as an artificial liver. These machines satisfy the need to improve and innovate new equipment that can save lives and improve how people in the medical field perform their
By convention, the field of healthcare research was entirely occupied by physicians and doctors. They were the ones who came up with new methods to treat diseases and get better results from diagnostic tests. Technology, on the other hand, was always looked at as a way to solve problems that we faced that didn’t pertain to the medical sector. It was employed to enhance the quality of life and make day to day work easier. But as technology progressed, so did the areas of application. The structural balancing techniques which were previously used to hold a building steady were now being used to develop near-perfect artificial joints and prosthetic limbs. Transparent polymers, developed to enhance robotic vision, were being suggested as a candidate for an artificial lens for the human eye. Before anyone could even understand what was happening, engineering had taken up the mantle to further medical technology to dizzying new heights.
The field of regenerative medicine encompasses numerous strategies, including the use of materials and de novo generated cells, as well as various combinations thereof, to take the place of missing tissue, effectively replacing it both structurally and functionally, or to contribute to tissue healing[29]
First, I’ll attempt to explain which methods and procedures will be the future of modern medicine. The procedures that will be the future of modern medicine currently fall into the realms of taboo and fictional. These procedures encompass every aspect of medical science from exploration of the human body, curing of diseases, to improving a person’s quality of life. Many of these procedures are not very well known while a few have been in the spotlight. These procedures are; cloning, nano-robotics, retro-viruses, and genetic manipulation via gene-specific medications. For any serious breakthroughs in modern medical science we must embrace these new forms of treatment instead of shying away from them.