In vivo biocompatibility studies. II. Biomer: Preliminary cell adhesion and surface characterization studies

✍ Scribed by Marchant, R. E. ;Anderson, J. M. ;Phua, K. ;Hiltner, A.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1984
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 1024 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9304
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.820180307

✦ Synopsis

Biomer, a segmented polyether polyurethane, has gained wide acceptance in the medical field because of its favorable properties which include excellent mechanical properties' and relatively good blood compatibility.2 The importance of Biomer in biomedical applications, such as in catheters, heart assist pumps, and artificial heart chambers, has prompted numerous characterization studies and blood compatibility evaluations.2-10 However, little work has been done on its potential for biodegradation under in uivo'l or in uitroI2 conditions.

Biodegradation phenomena may be defined as occurring on many different structural levels, i. e. molecular, macromolecular, microscopic, and macroscopic, depending on the mechanism. Calcification may be described as a secondary form of biodegradation, and while several studies have been directed toward appreciating calcification occurring in blood pump materials, Coleman and c o -w ~r k e r s ' ~, ~~ have provided evidence that the biodegradation of Biomer, as it relates to in vivo calcification, may be intrinsic to the material itself or the fabrication procedure.

The degradation of biomedical polymers, following implantation, has often been explained by invoking the hypothesis that these effects are either caused or enhanced by the action of lysosomal enzymes contained in adherent leukocytes and foreign-body giant