Materials for Biomedical Engineering: Hydrogels and Polymer-Based Scaffolds discusses the use of a wide variety of hydrogels as bioactive scaffolds in regenerative medicine, including updates on innovative materials and their properties. Various types of currently investigated scaffolding materials and hydrogels are discussed, as is their future roles and applications, the main techniques for scaffold fabrication, and their characterization procedures. Readers will be able to use this book as a guide for the selection of the best materials for a specific application. - Provides a valuable resource of recent scientific progress, highlighting the most well-known applications of hydrogels as bioactive scaffolds in regenerative medicine - Includes novel opportunities and ideas for developing or improving technologies in biomaterials, and in related biomedical industries - Features at least 50% of references from the last 2-3 years

Polymers from natural sources are particularly useful as biomaterials and in regenerative medicine, given their similarity to the extracellular matrix and other polymers in the human body. This important book reviews the wealth of research on both tried and promising new natural-based biomedical polymers, together with their applications as implantable biomaterials, controlled-release carriers or scaffolds for tissue engineering.The first part of the book reviews the sources, processing and properties of natural-based polymers for biomedical applications. Part two describes how the surfaces of polymer-based biomaterials can be modified to improve their functionality. The third part of the book discusses the use of natural-based polymers for biodegradable scaffolds and hydrogels in tissue engineering. Building on this foundation, Part four looks at the particular use of natural-gelling polymers for encapsulation, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The penultimate group of chapters reviews the use of natural-based polymers as delivery systems for drugs, hormones, enzymes and growth factors. The final part of the book summarises research on the key issue of biocompatibility.Natural-based polymers for biomedical applications is a standard reference for biomedical engineers, those studying and researching in this important area, and the medical community. - Examines the sources, processing and properties of natural based polymers for biomedical applications - Explains how the surfaces of polymer based biomaterials can be modified to improve their functionality - Discusses the use of natural based polymers for hydrogels in tissue engineering, and in particular natural gelling polymers for encapsulation and regenerative medicine

Hydrogels, as three-dimensional polymer networks, are able to retain a large amount of water in their swollen state. The biomedical application of hydrogels was initially hampered by the toxicity of cross-linking agents and the limitations of hydrogel formation under physiological conditions. However, emerging knowledge in polymer chemistry and an increased understanding of biological processes have resulted in the design of versatile materials and minimally invasive therapies.The novel but challenging properties of hydrogels are attracting the attention of researchers in the biological, medical, and pharmaceutical fields. In the last few years, new methods have been developed for the preparation of hydrophilic polymers and hydrogels, which may be used in future biomedical and drug delivery applications. Such efforts include the synthesis of self-organized nanostructures based on triblock copolymers with applications in controlled drug delivery. These hydrogels could be used as carriers for drug delivery when combined with the techniques of drug imprinting and subsequent release. Engineered protein hydrogels have many potential advantages. They are excellent biomaterials and biodegradables. Furthermore, they could encapsulate drugs and be used in injectable forms to replace surgery, to repair damaged cartilage, in regenerative medicine, or in tissue engineering. Also, they have potential applications in gene therapy, although this field is relatively new.

Biodegradable, polymer-based systems are playing an increasingly pivotal role in tissue engineering replacement and regeneration. This type of biology-driven materials science is slated to be one of the key research areas of the 21st century. The following aspects are crucial: the development of adequate human cell culture to produce the tissues in adequate polymer scaffold materials; the development of culture technology with which human tissues can be grown ex-vivo in 3D polymer matrices; the development of material technology for producing the degradable, 3D matrices, having mechanical properties similar to natural tissue. In addressing these and similar problems, the book contains chapters on biodegradable polymers, polymeric biomaterials, surface modification for controlling cell-material interactions, scaffold design and processing, biomimetic coatings, biocompatibility evaluation, tissue engineering constructs, cell isolation, characterisation and culture, and controlled release of bioactive agents.

This book provides an insight into the basic fundamentals of the biomaterials used for the biomedical applications, their development and processing techniques. Advanced materials are significantly utilized for the biomedical applications ranging from dental devices to cancer treatment owing to their higher biocompatibility and better interaction with tissues. This book covers the various topics that include basic biocompatibility phenomena, insight to materials science, class of different advanced materials as a biomaterials, development and processing techniques, design and analysis of the developed advanced materials, investigation of its properties and major applications. Recent information regarding the development techniques and methods for improving the properties of the advanced materials in the field of biomedical applications is highlighted in detail. The textbook offers clear explanation of the text in the chapters with self-explanatory figures and tables. It demonstrates the novel methods, opportunities and ideas for developing biomaterials in the field of biomedical applications. It also includes critical review study of the developed advanced materials for biomedical applications in a new summarized form. The inclusion of the discussions on hybrid polymer-based composites and self-healing composite materials offers a special feature in the textbook. It features a thorough overview of the simulation aspect in the biomedical applications. The book features at least 50% of its references from last three–four years’ work in the field of biomaterials and biomedical. The book content adds to the redundancy in the literature work related to biomedical and biomaterials. This book is a valuable resource for academicians, students and scholars from science and engineering background having interest in biomaterials. It is helpful to the biomedical engineering group especially in countries or location where they don’t have access to the major journals.

Polymers are important and attractive biomaterials for researchers and clinical applications due to the ease of tailoring their chemical, physical and biological properties for target devices. Due to this versatility they are rapidly replacing other classes of biomaterials such as ceramics or metals. As a result, the demand for biomedical polymers has grown exponentially and supports a diverse and highly monetized research community. Currently worth $1.2bn in 2009 (up from $650m in 2000), biomedical polymers are expected to achieve a CAGR of 9.8% until 2015, supporting a current research community of approximately 28,000+. Summarizing the main advances in biopolymer development of the last decades, this work systematically covers both the physical science and biomedical engineering of the multidisciplinary field. Coverage extends across synthesis, characterization, design consideration and biomedical applications. The work supports scientists researching the formulation of novel polymers with desirable physical, chemical, biological, biomechanical and degradation properties for specific targeted biomedical applications. - Combines chemistry, biology and engineering for expert and appropriate integration of design and engineering of polymeric biomaterials - Physical, chemical, biological, biomechanical and degradation properties alongside currently deployed clinical applications of specific biomaterials aids use as single source reference on field. - 15+ case studies provides in-depth analysis of currently used polymeric biomaterials, aiding design considerations for the future

Given the rapid development and use of biomaterials, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the structure, processing and properties of biomedical polymers and their medical applications. With its distinguished editor and team of international contributors, Biomedical Polymers reviews the latest research on this important group of biomaterials.The book discusses natural, synthetic, biodegradable and non bio-degradable polymers and their applications. Chapters review polymeric scaffolds for tissue engineering and drug delivery systems, the use of polymers in cell encapsulation, their role as replacement materials for heart valves and arteries, and their applications in joint replacement. The book also discusses the use of polymers in biosensor applications.Biomedical polymers is an essential reference for scientists and all those concerned with the development and use of this important group of biomaterials - Reviews the latest research in this important group of biomaterials - Discusses natural, synthetic, biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymers and their applications - Examines the use of biomedical polymers in such areas as drug delivery systems and cell encapsulation

This book discusses recent advances in hydrogels, including their generation and applications and presents a compendium of fundamental concepts. It highlights the most important hydrogel materials, including physical hydrogels, chemical hydrogels, and nanohydrogels and explores the development of hydrogel-based novel materials that respond to external stimuli, such as temperature, pressure, pH, light, biochemicals or magnetism, which represent a new class of intelligent materials. With their multiple cooperative functions, hydrogel-based materials exhibit different potential applications ranging from biomedical engineering to water purification systems. This book covers key topics including superabsorbent polymer hydrogel; intelligent hydrogels for drug delivery; hydrogels from catechol-conjugated materials; nanomaterials loaded hydrogel; electrospinning of hydrogels; biopolymers-based hydrogels; injectable hydrogels; interpenetrating-polymer-network hydrogels: radiation- and sonochemical synthesis of micro/nano/macroscopic hydrogels; DNA-based hydrogels; and multifunctional applications of hydrogels. It will prove a valuable resource for researchers working in industry and academia alike.

Addresses assessment of polymeric materials in biomedical sciences including classification, properties, and development of polymeric implants Covers various topics in the field of tissue regeneration Discusses the biocompatibility, toxicity, and biodegradation of polymeric materials Explores wide scale characterization to study the effect of inclusion size on mechanical properties of polymeric materials Reviews limitations and future directions on polymeric material with emphasis on biocompatibility