SCIENCE / CLINICAL RESEARCH logo 17 • CAMLOG Partner Magazine • March 2018 8 Numerous factors play a role in the selection of a suitable biomaterial. The reactions triggered by the material used are related to its biocompatibility as well as its chemical, physical, and mechanical properties. The combination of these properties and the ability of the material to augment or replace the body’s own tissues determine its quality. SYNERGY OF THE ELEMENTS: THE FUNCTIONALITY AND BIOCOMPATIBILITY OF BIOMATERIALS Structure and composition of the biomaterial The contact surface of the biomaterial and both the humoral and cellular components of the body interact in many different ways that are influenced by the topography of the material (Fig. 1). Bones and soft tissue are structures that are not easy to replicate. The functionality of a biomaterial results from the sum of its biological interactions [1]. If functionality meets biocompatibility, this leads to a biomaterial that effectively supports tissue regeneration. When choosing a biomaterial, the central question is how the implanted material interacts with the surrounding tissues. For example, sintered bone replacement materials tend to be absorbed relatively quickly [2]. Excessively rapid resorption, however, can lead to a weakening of the newly formed bone, which can lead to complications. In contrast, MinerOss® X and MinerOss® XP have a slow absorption rate [3]. This allows substantial new bone formation. From a biological point of view, the ideal bone graft material should promote the formation of a stable blood clot because granulation tissue will then grow around the bone. This soft callus is subsequently converted into woven bone and then to lamellar bone. Ultimately this is referred to as remodeling [4]. The biomaterial should be both functional as well as biocompatible and promote the healing process. From a clinical point of view, the bone replacement material must therefore meet several requirements: • Porosity, as well as pore size and interconnectivity, are decisive factors for the use of bone replacement materials. The material has to provide a three-dimenFig. 1: The inorganic porcine bone mineral matrix of MinerOss® XP in 75-fold and 25-fold SEM magnification. Image courtesy of Dr. S-T Li.
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