Review Article Bioabsorbable Implant Materials: A Review

BMC Surgery, 2015

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the safety of bioabsorbable plates and screws in humans. Methods: For this purpose, an implant system based on [poly(lactic-co-glycolic acids)(85:15)] was designed. The system was tested for pH, temperature, and swelling and then its surface morphology was analyzed for surface porosity using environmental electron microscopy. Then, the effects of this bioabsorbable system on the viability and profileration of osteocytes were examined on a molecular level via in vitro experiments. A [poly(lactic-co-glycolic acids)(90:10)] bioabsorbable implant, which is commercially available and used in orthopedic surgery, was used as control group. For the statistical evaluation of the data obtained in the present study, the groups were compared by Tukey HSD test following ANOVA. The significance level was set as p < 0.05. Results: It was observed that the osteocytes cultivated on the PLGA system designed in the present study included more live cells and allowed more proliferation compared to the control. Conclusion: One of the criteria in the selection of implants for orthopedic surgery is that a good implant should not need removal and thus a second surgery. In the present study, a bioabsorbable implant was designed considering this criterion. The present study is the first step to prove the safety of this new design by in vitro toxicity and viability experiments.

The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

The use of bioabsorbable implants in orthopaedic surgical procedures is becoming more frequent. Advances in polymer science have allowed the production of implants with the mechanical strength necessary for such procedures. Bioabsorbable materials have been utilized for the fixation of fractures as well as for soft-tissue fixation. These implants offer the advantages of gradual load transfer to the healing tissue, reduced need for hardware removal, and radiolucency, which facilitates postoperative radiographic evaluation. Reported complications with the use of these materials include sterile sinus tract formation, osteolysis, synovitis, and hypertrophic fibrous encapsulation. Further study is required to determine the clinical situations in which these materials are of most benefit.

Over the years metals like SS316l and its behavior and properties has established itself as the best available bio implant material. With the advancement in the field of material science, metallurgy and designing, the development for more advanced bio materials having better properties than metals is observed. It has been observed that one of the most important properties governing the suitability of the material to be a bio implant is 'wear resistance' 'Corrosion Resistance' and also the fatigue resistance. But in the recent trend metals as been completely replaced by other materials like alumina, composites, and also polymers which can have a very good biocompatibility then metals which as very good mechanical electrical and thermal properties compared to this type of material. In the biomaterials biocompatibility plays in main role in the behavior of implantation which recognize the pulse of the material which can be used as various polymer materials

Bioabsorbable materials are more commonly used now days in orthopaedic surgeries. Bioabsorbable implants for fracture fixation, and meniscal repair. These implants provide the advantages of gradual load transfer to the healing tissue, reduced need for implant removal, and radiolucency, which facilitates postoperative radiographic evaluation and no hinderance in second surgery. These also carries disadvantages like, more expensive, having less strength than metals, tissue reactions including mild fluid accumulation, painful erythematous fluctuating papule, sterile sinus tract formation, osteolysis, synovitis, and hypertrophic fibrous encapsulation. We advocate more researches to be carried out for the best suitability of these materials in orthopaedic surgeries.

Progress in Polymer Science, 1989

World journal of clinical cases, 2015

Appropriate selection of the implant biomaterial is a key factor for long term success of implants. The biologic environment does not accept completely any material so to optimize biologic performance, implants should be selected to reduce the negative biologic response while maintaining adequate function. Every clinician should always gain a thorough knowledge about the different biomaterials used for the dental implants. This article makes an effort to summarize various dental bio-materials which were used in the past and as well as the latest material used now.

Journal of Functional Biomaterials

Recent progress made in biomaterials and their clinical applications is well known. In the last five decades, great advances have been made in the field of biomaterials, including ceramics, glasses, polymers, composites, glass-ceramics and metal alloys. A variety of bioimplants are currently used in either one of the aforesaid forms. Some of these materials are designed to degrade or to be resorbed inside the body rather than removing the implant after its function is served. Many properties such as mechanical properties, non-toxicity, surface modification, degradation rate, biocompatibility, and corrosion rate and scaffold design are taken into consideration. The current review focuses on state-of-the-art biodegradable bioceramics, polymers, metal alloys and a few implants that employ bioresorbable/biodegradable materials. The essential functions, properties and their critical factors are discussed in detail, in addition to their challenges to be overcome.

Journal of Applied Biomaterials, 1994

Recent reports describe an unfavorable noninfective inflammatory response to acidic degradation products in clinical applications of bone fixation devices fabricated from bulk hydrolyzing polyglycolides and polylactides (PGA and PLA). The work described here suggests that poly(ortho esters) (POEs) offer an alternative. By comparison, hydrophobic POEs degrade predominately via surface hydrolysis, yielding first a combination of nonacidic degradation products, followed by alcoholic and acidic products gradually over time. POE specimens proved acutely nontoxic in United States Pharmacopeia tests of cellular, intracutaneous, systemic, and intramuscular implant toxicity.Hot-molded specimens degraded slowly in saline, retaining 92% initial stiffness (1.6 GPa flexion) and retaining 80% initial strength (66 MPa flexion) in 12 weeks. Degradation was almost unaffected by decreasing saline pH from 7.4 to 5.0. This demonstrated the relative hydrophobicity of POEs, since incorporation of small amounts of acid within the polymer markedly increases the degradation rate. Degradation rates were increased substantially by dynamic mechanical loading in saline. This may be true for other degradable polymers also, but no data could be found in the literature. Presumably, tensile loading opens microcracks, allowing water to enter.Solvent cast POE films were strong in tension (30 + MPa tensile yield) and reasonably tough (12–15% elongation to yield). Higher molecular weight films (41–67 kDa) showed no degradation in mechanical properties after 31 days in physiological buffer at body temperature. A 27-kDa film offered similar initial strength and stiffness but began showing mechanical degradation at 31 days. The films showed a decrease in weight with exposure time but no change in either molecular weight or water absorption at 31 days, further supporting the observation that POE degrades by surface hydrolysis rather than by bulk hydrolysis. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

IP Annals of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry, 2019

Biomaterials used in implantology have evolved over a period of time. In quest for desirable mechanical, physical and biological properties of material, numerous modifications have been made in existing materials. In order to optimize acceptance of implant in the biologic environment constant efforts have been made to introduce new materials or to improve existing material properties. It is imperative for every clinician to be thorough with the recent advancements and newer biomaterials so as to effectively select a material. For years titanium has ruled over other biomaterials and been used successfully as a dental implant material due to the excellent biocompatibility that it offers. This article makes an effort to summarize various dental implant biomaterials which have been used over a period of time now.