Biomaterials and Tissue Biomechanics: A Match Made in Heaven?

Abstract

Biomaterials and tissue biomechanics have been traditionally separate areas of research with relatively little overlap in terms of methodological approaches. Recent advances in both fields on the one hand and developments in fabrication techniques and design approaches on the other have prepared the ground for joint research efforts by both communities. Additive manufacturing and rational design are examples of the revolutionary fabrication techniques and design methodologies that could facilitate more intimate collaboration between biomaterial scientists and biomechanists. This editorial article highlights the various ways in which the research on tissue biomechanics and biomaterials are related to each other and could benefit from each other’s results and methodologies.

Assessment of Titanate Nanolayers in Terms of Their Physicochemical and Biological Properties

“…The wide use of metal implants in the treatment of bone injuries and other diseases requiring their surgical implantation, which can support tissue regeneration and facilitate bone differentiation and development, is one of the most important directions in the development of modern medicine. From the technological point of view, the selection of materials used in the construction of implants depends on the functions that they will perform in the human body [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. In the case of metallic implants, especially important is their surface, which should exhibit biological compatibility in the interaction with tissues and body fluids in the human body [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ] Good mechanical properties and appropriate bioactivity of titanium and its alloys contributed to the wide use of these materials in the production of modern bone implants and bone and tissue scaffolding [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 ].…”

Biomimetic Composite Scaffold With Phosphoserine Signaling for Bone Tissue Engineering Application

“…In the analysis, both storage and loss modulus (E′ and E″) were measured between 0.1 and 20 Hz of frequency, which are typical low and high solicitation described in physiological situations in load-bearing applications (Roach et al, 2007; Chen et al, 2012). Regarding the dynamic mechanical evaluation, composite scaffolds with phosphoserine showed extraordinary tension dissipation ability, related to hindering properties, especially at low and high frequencies, which can be a very useful feature in view of in vivo implantation (Zadpoor, 2017). Significant differences on the tan delta results were observed between the cryogels with and without OPS.…”

Biomimetic hydrogels designed for cartilage tissue engineering

“…To achieve desired properties of the hydrogels, generally a significant amount of iterations in multi-variant systems is needed for the design, manufacturing and characterisation of these systems 152 . One promising strategy is the emerging concept of rational design that is based on computationally guided biomaterials design strategies 153 . These have been shown to be very suitable when multiple design variables needs to be considered.…”