The development of materials for any replacement or regeneration application should be based on the thorough understanding of the structure to be substituted. This is true in many fields, but particularly exigent in substitution and regeneration medicine. The demands upon the material properties largely depend on the site of application and the function it has to restore. Ideally, a replacement material should mimic the living tissue from a mechanical, chemical, biological and functional point of view. Of course this is much easier to write down than to implement in clinical practice. Mineralized tissues such as bones, tooth and shells have attracted, in the last few years, considerable interest as natural anisotropic composite structures with adequate mechanical properties. In fact, Nature is and will continue to be the best materials scientist ever. Who better than nature can design complex structures and control the intricate phenomena (processing routes) that lead to the final shape and structure (from the macro to the nano level) of living creatures? Who can combine biological and physico-chemical mechanisms in such a way that can build ideal structure-properties relationships? Who, else than Nature, can really design smart structural components that respond in-situ to exterior stimulus, being able of adapting constantly their microstructure and correspondent properties? In the described philosophy line, mineralized tissues and biomineralization processes are ideal examples to learn-from for the materials scientist of the future.

This book introduces several remarkable new probabilistic objects that combine spatial motion with a continuous branching phenomenon and are closely related to certain semilinear partial differential equations (PDE). The Brownian snake approach is used to give a powerful representation of superprocesses and also to investigate connections between superprocesses and PDEs. These are notable because almost every important probabilistic question corresponds to a significant analytic problem.

Polymers from natural sources are particularly useful as biomaterials and in regenerative medicine, given their similarity to the extracellular matrix and other polymers in the human body. This important book reviews the wealth of research on both tried and promising new natural-based biomedical polymers, together with their applications as implantable biomaterials, controlled-release carriers or scaffolds for tissue engineering.The first part of the book reviews the sources, processing and properties of natural-based polymers for biomedical applications. Part two describes how the surfaces of polymer-based biomaterials can be modified to improve their functionality. The third part of the book discusses the use of natural-based polymers for biodegradable scaffolds and hydrogels in tissue engineering. Building on this foundation, Part four looks at the particular use of natural-gelling polymers for encapsulation, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The penultimate group of chapters reviews the use of natural-based polymers as delivery systems for drugs, hormones, enzymes and growth factors. The final part of the book summarises research on the key issue of biocompatibility.Natural-based polymers for biomedical applications is a standard reference for biomedical engineers, those studying and researching in this important area, and the medical community. - Examines the sources, processing and properties of natural based polymers for biomedical applications - Explains how the surfaces of polymer based biomaterials can be modified to improve their functionality - Discusses the use of natural based polymers for hydrogels in tissue engineering, and in particular natural gelling polymers for encapsulation and regenerative medicine

Oceans are an abundant source of diverse biomaterials with potential for an array of uses. Marine Biomaterials: Characterization, Isolation and Applications brings together the wide range of research in this important area, including the latest developments and applications, from preliminary research to clinical trials. The book is divided into four parts, with chapters written by experts from around the world. Biomaterials described come from a variety of marine sources, such as fish, algae, microorganisms, crustaceans, and mollusks. Part I covers the isolation and characterization of marine biomaterials—bioceramics, biopolymers, fatty acids, toxins and pigments, nanoparticles, and adhesive materials. It also describes problems that may be encountered in the process as well as possible solutions. Part II looks at biological activities of marine biomaterials, including polysaccharides, biotoxins, and peptides. Chapters examine health benefits of the biomaterials, such as antiviral activity, antidiabetic properties, anticoagulant and anti-allergic effects, and more. Part III discusses biomedical applications of marine biomaterials, including nanocomposites, and describes applications of various materials in tissue engineering and drug delivery. Part IV explores commercialization of marine-derived biomaterials—marine polysaccharides and marine enzymes—and examines industry perspectives and applications. This book covers the key aspects of available marine biomaterials for biological and biomedical applications, and presents techniques that can be used for future isolation of novel materials from marine sources.

This full-color volume proposes an innovative methodology that uses the functional aspects of nature to inspire improvements in building design and form, encouraging designers to apply biomimetic principles to architectural processes. The book focuses on the analysis of various animal skins, translating the principles of communication, thermoregulation, water balance, and protection into the built environment. Illustrating how biomimetic principles can create a more sustainable way of building, this is the first time the author's new methodology-as well as the 12 case studies-has been published.

Ideal as a graduate textbook, this title is aimed at helping design effective biomaterials, taking into account the complex interactions that occur at the interface when a synthetic material is inserted into a living system. Surface reactivity, biochemistry, substrates, cleaning, preparation, and coatings are presented, with numerous case studies and applications throughout. Highlights include: Starts with concepts and works up to real-life applications such as implantable devices, medical devices, prosthetics, and drug delivery technology Addresses surface reactivity, requirements for surface coating, cleaning and preparation techniques, and characterization Discusses the biological response to coatings Addresses biomaterial-tissue interaction Incorporates nanomechanical properties and processing strategies

Functional Marine Biomaterials: Properties and Applications provides readers with the latest information on the diverse marine environment as a resource for many new substances, including biopolymers, bioceramics, and biominerals. As recent advances and funding has enabled scientists to begin harnessing many of these materials for biomedical applications from drug delivery to bone tissue engineering and biosensors, this important new text provides readers with a comprehensive review of these materials and their functional applications in the biomedical field. Chapters discuss the properties of the main classes of functional marine biomaterials, applications of marine products in tissue engineering, applications in drug delivery systems, and the role of marine derived materials in medical devices. - Provides readers with the latest information on the diverse marine environment as a resource for many new substances, including biopolymers, bioceramics, and biominerals - Presents a comprehensive review of these materials and their functional applications in the biomedical field - Discusses the properties of the main classes of functional marine biomaterials, applications of marine products in tissue engineering, applications in drug delivery systems, and the role of marine derived materials in medical devices