Search PubMed⌕ Search

PubMed · 17033989

Biomaterials surface characterization and modification.

Abstract

This paper presents several examples of recent work in the field of surface modification and characterization of biomaterials. Due to the explosion of techniques and approaches in this area, a complete review would be unmanageable in a single paper. Rather selected examples taken from such different areas as bone-contacting devices, drug eluting stents, and immobilization of novel biomolecules are presented. The aim is to place the existing and quickly developing background of analytical and synthetic biomaterial surface science into the current perspective of this rapidly evolving discipline.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

M Morra, C Cassinelli. 2006. Biomaterials surface characterization and modification.. https://doi.org/10.1177/039139880602900903

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

Artificial muscles based on liquid crystal elastomers.

This paper presents our results on liquid crystal (LC) elastomers as artificial muscle, based on the ideas proposed by de Gennes. In the theoretical model, the material consists of a repeated series of main-chain nematic LC polymer blocks, N, and conventional rubber blocks, R, based on the lamellar phase of a triblock copolymer RNR. The motor for the contraction is the reversible macromolecular shape change of the chain, from stretched to spherical, that occurs at the nematic-to-isotropic phase transition in the main-chain nematic LC polymers. We first developed a new kind of muscle-like material based on a network of side-on nematic LC homopolymers. Side-on LC polymers were used instead of main-chain LC polymers for synthetic reasons. The first example of these materials was thermo-responsive, with a typical contraction of around 35-45% and a generated force of around 210 kPa. Subsequently, a photo-responsive material was developed, with a fast photochemically induced contraction of around 20%, triggered by UV light. We then succeeded in preparing a thermo-responsive artificial muscle, RNR, with lamellar structure, using a side-on nematic LC polymer as N block.Micrometre-sized artificial muscles were also prepared. This paper illustrates the bottom-up design of stimuli-responsive materials, in which the overall material response reflects the individual macromolecular response, using LC polymer as building block.

Artificial Organs↗

A design framework to model retinas.

Neuro-engineering is providing biomedical engineers with technology to interface the nervous system, which is useful to create prosthetic devices to palliate sensorial or motor disabilities. Motivated by the success of cochlear implants for deaf patients, we are now facing the challenge of creating a prosthetic visual system for the blind. An artificial retina whose response to stimuli can be matched to biological ones is required. To make easier the task of modeling, tuning and testing these retinal models, we have created a software tool that allows flexible and parametric definition and testing of retina-like models. The program can be fed with a variety of video or image sources, and the results can be easily compared to biological recordings of retinal ganglionar activity in response to the same stimuli. This tool can be useful, not only for this prosthetic purpose, but for any other research involving bio-inspired image processing with a neuromorphic output.

Artificial Organs↗