Polymeric biomaterials in clinical practice

Abstract

Biomedical implants improve and enhance human lives, and millions of people have experienced the benefits of incorporation of implants in the human body. Up until today, the list of biomaterial applications has included smart delivery systems for drugs, tissue cultures, engineered tissues, and hybrid organs. Because of the continuous and ever-expanding practical needs of medicine and health care practice, there are currently thousands of medical devices, diagnostic products, and disposables on the market. Polymeric materials such as films, fibers, and rods have a wide variety of applications for implantation, since they have some unique properties and can be easily fabricated. They are noncancerous, nontoxic and nonallergic. Polymeric materials possess good strength, elasticity and durability. These materials have been widely used as dental materials, drug delivery systems, prosthetic materials, tissue-engineered products, etc. Undoubtedly, biomaterials have had a major impact on the practice of contemporary medicine and patient care in both saving and improving the quality of lives of humans and animals, and with the high-tech revolution, tremendous further goals will continue to be achieved in this field.