Cell Adhesion to Biomaterials: Concept of Biocompatibility - Advances in Biomaterials Science and Biomedical Applications - page 218

component of the gingival chorion whose intercellular matrix is essentially formed by colla‐
gen and elastin.
3.2. Cell-Biomaterial: Interface and interactions
3.2.1. Biocompatibility concept
While a cell is in contact with a biomaterial, many reactions can occur and a sensing phe‐
nomenon will launch between this cell and the biomaterial [37]. Indeed, the cell has a signal
network reached as a result of the surface exploration and sensing made in order to verify
whether the new environment (biomaterial) is in accordance with its expected physiological
conditions necessary for a normal biological activity [38]. Thus, before putting a new materi‐
al in contact with a cell it's of a great importance to choose the corresponding material in
such a way that this material obey the cell's norm by not being toxic or injurious and not
causing immunological rejection. In one word, this material must be biocompatible.
The biological tolerance of a biomaterial led scientists to regroup the different parameters
and mechanisms controlling the interface biomaterial/cell (or tissue) so that they can deduce
a concrete and a common definition for biocompatibility concept. Indeed, biocompatibility
includes the understanding of the interactive mechanisms relating the biomaterial with its
biological environment. Generally, biocompatibility represents the ability of a material to be
accepted by a living organism.
In 1987, Williams D.F suggested the following definition «biocompatibility is the ability
of a material to be used with an appropriate and suitable reaction of the host for a spe‐
cific application».
According to Exbrayat [39] « biocompatibility is a set of the different interrelations between
a biomaterial and its environment, and their biological local or general consequences, imme‐
diate or delayed, reversible or definitive».
Indeed, biocompatibility is a group of networks that liaises between the biomaterial and its
environment and takes into account the possible effect of this biomaterial on its environ‐
ment and vice versa. Interactions existing in the interface biomaterial/biological environ‐
ment differ by their intensity and their duration period depending both on the biomaterial
and on the tissue in contact.
Characterizing the surface properties of a biomaterial before putting it in contact with a cell
seems to be an obligation. This step allows us to know about different parameters and char‐
acters of this biomaterial (topography, roughness, surface energy etc.) in order to find a cor‐
relation with the cell behavior and therefore we can adjust these physico-chemical
properties, when making the biomaterial, so that we have a normal and physiological cell
behavior in contact with that biomaterial.