Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
9
Nanostructured biomaterials for artificial tissues
and organs
Y . C H E N and T . J . WE B S T E R , Brown University, USA
Abstract: This chapter discusses the rationale and the promise of
nanotechnology to create the new generation of biomaterials for tissue
engineering. It reviews the morphologies and functions of the nanostructures
in natural tissues, introduces the methods to produce biomimetic
nanostructured materials and demonstrates the improvement of tissue
engineering by utilizing such nanostructured biomaterials.
Key words: nanotechnology, biomaterials, biomimic, tissue engineering.
9.1
Introduction and background of nanostructured
biomaterials
Over the past two decades, with the accelerated development of tissue
engineering, the demand for a variety of synthetic and natural biomaterials
has dramatically increased. Biomaterial sales have already exceeded $240
million per year [1] and due to the rapid development of biomaterials, the
market will only increase in the years ahead for tissue engineering and artificial
organ materials. Specifically, costs related to organ replacement account for 8%
of all global healthcare spending and by 2040 as much as 25% of the US gross
domestic product (GDP) is expected to be related to healthcare [2]. Such
demands require unique, better performing biomaterials for regenerative
medicine. For example, it is necessary to develop better material mechanical
properties and biocompatibility properties. Conventional biomaterials (or those
materials with constituent dimensions greater than 1m) have not satisfactorily
met clinical demands. Researchers, clinicians and other investigators are thus
seeking better novel materials to serve as the next generation of
tissue
engineering and artificial organ materials.
Nature has always given people inspiration for innovation, but with caution.
For example, caution needs to be taken since clearly some of our best
engineering accomplishments do not mimic nature, as easily seen by comparing
airplane with bird flight. In this context, nature has designed our tissues to have
certain roughness. From a biomaterial point of view, to date, researchers and
engineers have considered implant texture and surface features only at the
