The development and use of medical and dental materials are highly interdisciplinary endeavors which require expertise in chemistry, materials science, medicine and/or dentistry, mechanics and design engineering. The Symposium upon which this treatise is based was organized to bring members from these communities together to explore problems of mutual interest. The biomaterials which are used in medical or dental prostheses must not only exhibit structural stability and provide the desired function, but they must also perform over extended periods of time in the environment of the body. The latter is a very stringent requirement. The oral and other physiological environments are designed by nature to break down many organic substances. Also of importance is the requirement that materials used in the prosthesis not have a deleterious effect on body tissues. Most foreign (to the body) substances are somewhat toxic to human tissues; in fact, few factors are more limiting in the medical prosthesis field than the biocompatibility problem. Some of these problems and the attempts to solve them are discussed in this volume.

Recent advances not only in the creation of new polymers but also in their processing and production have ushered in huge strides in a variety of biomedical and clinical areas. Orthopedics and dentistry are two such areas that benefit immensely from developments in polymer science and technology. Polymers for Dental and Orthopedic Applications

Materials for Biomedical Engineering: Thermoset and Thermoplastic Polymers presents the newest and most interesting approaches to intelligent polymer engineering in both current and future progress in biomedical sciences. Particular emphasis is placed on the properties needed for each selected polymer and how to increase their biomedical potential in varying applications, such as drug delivery and tissue engineering. These materials are intended for use in diagnoses, therapy and prophylaxis, but are also relatable to other biomedical related applications, such as sensors. Recent developments and future perspectives regarding their use in biomedicine are discussed in detail, making this book an ideal source on the topic. - Highlights the most well-known applications of thermoset and thermoplastic polymers in biological and biomedical engineering - Presents novel opportunities and ideas for developing or improving technologies in materials for companies, those in biomedical industries, and others - Features at least 50% of references from the last 2-3 years

Nanostructured Polymer Composites for Biomedical Applications addresses the challenges researchers face regarding the creation of nanostructured polymer composites that not only have superior performance and mechanical properties, but also have acceptable biological function. This book discusses current efforts to meet this challenge by discussing the multidisciplinary nature of nanostructured polymer composite biomaterials from various fields, including materials science, polymer science, biomedical engineering and biomedicine. This compilation of existing knowledge will lead to the generation of new terminology and definitions across individual disciplines. As such, this book will help researchers and engineers develop new products and devices for use in effective medical treatment. - Summarizes the most recent strategies to develop nanostructured polymer composite biomaterials for biomedicine - Outlines the major preparation and characterization techniques for a range of polymer nanocomposites used in biomedicine - Explores the design of new types of nanostructured polymer composites for applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, gene therapy and bone replacement

Braden and his coauthors give a comprehensive overview of the use of polymers and polymer composites as dental materials. These comprise polyelectrolyte based materials, elastomers, glassy and crystalline polymers and fibres. Such materials are used in dentistry as restorative materials, hard and soft prostheses, and impression materials. The chemistry of materials is reviewed, together with mechanical, thermal, visco-elastic and water solution properties. These properties are related to clinical performance, with emphasis on some of the difficulties inherent in developing materials for oral use. Indications are given of possible future developments.

Polymers are important and attractive biomaterials for researchers and clinical applications due to the ease of tailoring their chemical, physical and biological properties for target devices. Due to this versatility they are rapidly replacing other classes of biomaterials such as ceramics or metals. As a result, the demand for biomedical polymers has grown exponentially and supports a diverse and highly monetized research community. Currently worth $1.2bn in 2009 (up from $650m in 2000), biomedical polymers are expected to achieve a CAGR of 9.8% until 2015, supporting a current research community of approximately 28,000+. Summarizing the main advances in biopolymer development of the last decades, this work systematically covers both the physical science and biomedical engineering of the multidisciplinary field. Coverage extends across synthesis, characterization, design consideration and biomedical applications. The work supports scientists researching the formulation of novel polymers with desirable physical, chemical, biological, biomechanical and degradation properties for specific targeted biomedical applications. - Combines chemistry, biology and engineering for expert and appropriate integration of design and engineering of polymeric biomaterials - Physical, chemical, biological, biomechanical and degradation properties alongside currently deployed clinical applications of specific biomaterials aids use as single source reference on field. - 15+ case studies provides in-depth analysis of currently used polymeric biomaterials, aiding design considerations for the future

Advanced Functional Polymers for Biomedical Applications presents novel techniques for the preparation and characterization of functionalized polymers, enabling researchers, scientists and engineers to understand and utilize their enhanced functionality in a range of cutting-edge biomedical applications. - Provides systematic coverage of the major types of functional polymers, discussing their properties, preparation techniques and potential applications - Presents new synthetic approaches alongside the very latest polymer processing and characterization methods - Unlocks the potential of functional polymers to support ground-breaking techniques for drug and gene delivery, diagnostics, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine