CHAPTER 8
Design Parameters
8.1 Biomaterials: Relative Properties
8.2 Bulk (Mechanical) and Surface Properties
8.3 Reactivity: Molecular Interactions
8.4 Bioadhesion (Tissue Bonding): Physical and Chemical Mechanisms
8.5 Factors Affectin g Biomaterials
8.1 BIOMATERIALS: RELATIVE PROPERTIES
ADVANTAGES
METALS
Stainless Steel Strength
Ease of manufacturing
Availability
Cobalt- Chromium Strength
Corrosion resistance
Relative wear resistance
Titanium (6Al- 4V) Strength
Low modulus
Corrosion resistance
CERAMICS
Alumina Resistance to chemical degradation
Wettability
Resistance to wear
Calcium Phosphates (Slightly Soluble and Resorbable)
Hydroxyapatite Bone- bonding
Slight solubility
Whitlockite Bone- bonding
Solubility
Natural (Resorbable)
Bone Apatite Bone- bonding
Resorbability
DISADVANTAGES
Potential for corrosion
High modulus of elasticity
Unknown long- term effects of
Co and Cr ions
High modulus
Low wear resistance
Low te nsile and flexural strength
Low tensile and flexural strength
Slight solubility
Low tensil e and flexural strength
Solubility
Low strength
POLYMERS
Synthetic
Thermoplastics
PTFE (Teflon) Resistance to chemical degradation Low wear resistance
Hydrophobicity Hyd rophobic
Low friction Does not display typical
thermoplastic flow behavior
UHMWPE Relatively high wear resistance Subject to oxidation
PET (Dacron)
PMMA Polymerization in vivo
PSF High strength thermoplastic
PEEK High strength (> PSF)
Low water absorption
C/PSF; C/PEEK Very high strength
Relatively low modulus
Elastomers
PDMS High flex life
Ease of manufacture
Subject to hydrolysis
Low MW contaminants
Low fatigue st rength
(for load- bearing applications)
Water absorption
(dec. strength in water)
Unproven
Unproven
Low wear resistance
Release of low MW PDMS
Range of mechanical properties Immunogenicity?
Polyurethane High flex life Uncertain molecular structure-
Range of mechanical properties property relationships
Surface radically different from
bulk (high mobility of "soft
segments")
Low MW contaminants
Subject to hydrolysis, oxidation,
and calcification
Hydrogel
P - HEMA Low reactivity
Transparent
Absorbable
PLA/PGA Programmable absorption
Metabolizable degradation products
Natural
Collagen Replicates ECM components
Hyaluronan Replicates ECM com ponent
Low strength
Uncertain biological response to
bolus- release of metabolites
Low strength
Immunogenicity?
Unproven
Chitosan Substitutes for GAG (e.g., hyaluronan) Unproven
PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene, UHMWPE, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene PET polyethylene
terephthalate; PMMA, polymethyl methacrylate; PSF, polysulfone; PEEK, polyetheretherketone; PDMS,
polydimethyl siloxane; P- HEMA, poly hydroxyethyl methacrylate; PLA, polylactic acid; PGA,
polyglycolic acid.
8.2 BULK (MECHANICAL) AND SURFACE PROPERTIES
8.2.1 Properties Dependent on Atomic Bonding in the Bulk and Surface of Ma terials
BULK
Mechanical
- Strength
- Elasticity/Plasticity/Viscoelasticity
- Wear (Abrasive and Fatigue)
SURFACE
Mechanical
- Wear (Adhesive)
- Friction/Lubrication
Chemical
- Corrosion
- Oxidation
- Hydrolysis
- Enzymolysis
- Dissolution
Bioadhesion
- Mechanical
- Chemical
8.2.2 Bulk (Mechanical) and Surface Properties
METALS
Stainless Steel
Cobalt- Chromium
Titanium (6Al- 4V)
CERAMICS
Alumina
BULK
Mechanical
Strength Modulus
(MPa) (GPa)
500- 1000 200
700 240
900 110
4000 380
259
Calcium Phosphates
Hydroxyapatite <900 <100
Whitlockite
Natur al
Bone Apatite 140 18
POLYMERS
Synthetic
PTFE (Teflon) 14- 34 0.4
UHMWPE 21 1
PET (Dacron) <40
PMMA 55 3
PSF 70 2.5
PEEK 90 3.6
C/PSF; C/PEEK 500 60
PDMS 2.4- 7 <.01
Pol yurethane 1- 69 .07- 6.9
P - HEMA
PLA
PGA
Natural
Collagen
Hyaluronan NA NA
Chitosan NA NA
SURFACE
Mechanical Chemical
Wear Reactivity
(0- ++++) (0- ++++) Comment
+ + Tension
+ +
++ +
0 0 Compress.
Tension
NA ++* Compress.
NA +++*
NA +++* Compress.
++++ 0
++ +
+++ +
+++ +
Tension
Tension
Composites
++++ 0
NA 0
NA 0
NA ++++**
NA ++++**
NA ++++**
NA ++++**
NA ++++**
PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene, UHMWPE, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene PET polyethyl ene
terephthalate; PMMA, polymethyl methacrylate; PSF, polysulfone; PEEK, polyetheretherketone;
PDMS, polydimethyl siloxane; P- HEMA, poly hydroxyethyl methacrylate; PLA, polylactic acid; PGA,
polyglycolic acid.
* Soluble
**Absorbable
8.3 REACTIVITY: MOL ECULAR INTERACTIONS
8.3.1 Surface Modifying/Degradative Interactions: Effects of the Body on the Biomaterial
8.3.1.1 Water
8.3.1.1.1 Absorption (e.g., high water absorption by hydrogels is desired but even
low water absorption by thermoplastics po lymers can adversely affect
mechanical properties)
8.3.1.1.2 Hydrolysis (e.g., of ester linkage of polymers)
8.3.1.1.3 Water as electrolyte solution facilitates corrosion of metal
8.3.1.1.4 Dissolution of certain substances (e.g., calcium phosphates)
8.3 .1.2 Oxygen
8.3.1.2.1 Oxide formation (e.g., on metals)
8.3.1.2.2 Oxidative degradation of polymers
8.3.1.2.3 Corrosion of metal (e.g., sites of depleted oxygen undergo anodic,
reduction, reaction)
8.3.1.3 Cations and Anions Contributing to Corrosion, Dissolution, and Precipitation
(e.g., mineralization/calcification)
8.3.1.4 Enzymes (e.g., enzymolysis of natural polymers such as collagen)
Macromolecule Absorption (e.g., lipid absorption)
8.3.2 Molecular Interactions with Biological Molecules: Effects of the Biomaterial on the
Body
8.3.2.1 Water
8.3.2.1.1 Hydrophobic interactions
8.3.2.2 Charge Interactions
8.3.2.2.1 Ionic (primary bonding)
8.3.2.2.2 Secondary
8.3.2.2.2.1 Hydrogen bonding
8.3.2.2.2.2 Van der Waals interactions
8.4 BIOADHESION (TISSUE BONDING): PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL
MECHANISMS
8.4.1 Physical/Mechanical
8.4.1.1 Entanglement of macromolecules (nm scale)
8.4.1.2 Interdigitation of ECM with surface irregularities/porosity ( mm scale)
8.4.2 Chemical
8.4.2.1 Primary
8.4.2.2.1 Ionic
8.4.2.2 Secondary
8.4.2.2.1 Hydrogen bonding
8.4.2.2.2 Van der Waals
8.4.2.3 Hydrophobic Interactions
8.4.3 Size and Time Scales for Bioadhesion
Size Tissue Mechanism
Scale Level of Bonding
mm- cm Organ Interference Fit
Grouting Agent
Tissue (Bone)
Ingrowth
Chemical Bonding
mm Tissue Same
mm Cell Integrin
nm Protein Secondary Bonding
GAG Hydrophobic
Interactions
nm Mi neral Epitaxy
crystallites Ionic Bonding
Time
Constant
Weeks-
Months- Years
Wee ks
Days- Weeks
Seconds- Minutes-
Hours- Days
Seconds- Minutes-
Hours- Days
Measurement(s)
Radiographic
(qualitative)
Mechanical Testing
(quantitative)
Mechanical Testing
Light Microscopy/Histology
(qualitative)
Scanning Electron Microscopy
(qualitative and quantitative)
Histology
Transmission Electron
Microscopy (qual.)
Immunohistochemisty
(qual.)
Adsorption Isotherm
(quan.)
Transmission Electron
Microscopy
In vitro Precipitation
(quan.)
m
8.4.4 Characteristics of Porous Materials for Selected Applications
Device
Function/
Purpose Tissue Cell
Cell
Process(es)
Pore
Size (m m)
Pore
Geometry/
Orientation
Facilitate dermal
regeneration/
Prevent contraction Dermis Fibroblast Contraction 20- 120
(3- D) Isotopic or
planar isotropic (?)
Facilitate nerve
regeneration/Axon
elongation Nerve Nerve Migration 1- 10 U niaxial
Attachment of
prosthesis to
bone/Bone
ingrowth
Bone Osteoblast Mitosis
Synthesis
100- 600 Isotropic
8.4.5 Types of Bonding and Biomaterials for Implants in Bone
Types of Bonding
Press Fit (Interference Fit)
Grouting Agent
Bone Ingrowth
Bone Bonding
Screw Fixation
Bone Interdigitation
Materials
Titanium Alloy
Cobalt- Chromium Alloy
Polymethylmethacrylate
Cement (Bone Cement)
Porous Cobalt- Chromium Alloy
Porous Titanium Alloy
Porous Commercially Pure Titanium
Plasma Sprayed Hydroxyapatite
Stainless Steel
Cobalt- Chromium Alloy
Titanium Alloy
Cobalt- Chromium Alloy
Titanium Alloy
8.5 FACTORS AFFECTING BIOMATERIALS
8.5.1 Exposure to Air (e.g., hydrocarbon contaminants).
8.5.2 Handling (e.g., contamination with particles and alteration of topography).
8.5.3 Storage Time (e.g ., residual stresses can result in dimensional changes).
8.5.4 Sterilization
8.5.4.1 Autoclave (steam)
Effects of temperature and absorbed water in altering mechanical properties of
certain thermoplastics.
8.5.4.2 Dry heat (prolonged high temperatures)
8.5.4.3 Gas (ethylene oxide)
Prolonged period of aeration required for certain polymers.
8.5.4.4 Gamma radiation
Scission, crosslinking, and oxidation (when performed in air) of polymers.