Laser micro- and nanofabrication of biomaterials

Abstract

Over the past half century, rapid progress has been made in laser-based medical diagnosis and treatment as well as in laser-based medical device fabrication. Lasers have unique capabilities for coating, machining, melting, polymerizing, sintering, and welding materials that are used in implantable and transdermal medical devices. In this review, academic and industrial developments involving laser processing of materials for dental, orthopedic, neural, ophthalmic, cardiovascular, and transdermal applications are described. In addition, laser processing of nanoscale materials for medical applications is discussed. Finally, challenges associated with commercialization of laser biomaterials are considered. Due to the unique capabilities provided by laser-based processes, it is anticipated that the use of laser biomaterials in implantable and transdermal medical devices will markedly increase over the coming years.Roger Narayan, UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering , Raleigh , NC , USA ; roger_narayan@msn.com Peter Goering, Center for Devices and Radiological Health , U.S. Food and Drug Administration , Silver Spring , MD , USA ; peter.goering@fda.hhs. Edwards et al. described medical applications of free-electron lasers, which use light emitted by accelerated electrons. Infrared light emission from these lasers may be used for human neurosurgery, including treatment of metastatic brain tumors and ophthalmic surgery. 15 -19 They noted that use of a free-electron laser with 6.45 μ m emission for tissue ablation was correlated with minimal or undetectable collateral tissue damage. This wavelength is associated with brittle fracture at the commencement of explosive vaporization, mitigating damage to collateral tissues. Femtosecond pulsed lasers are currently used for LASIK (cornea refractive surgery); in this procedure, the laser is used to ablate a portion of tissue known as a lenticule from the cornea. 20 In addition, it is being considered for treatment of presbyopia (age-related vision changes) and for use in keratoplasty (cornea plastic surgery). Femtosecond laser surgeries involve two different modes. 21 Processing at low irradiance involves direct multiphoton interactions and free electron-induced chemical processes; at high irradiance, thermoelastic stresses may play signifi cant roles. Bashford described another use of lasers in medical therapy. In this approach, which is known as laser therapy, low intensity laser energy can be used to alter cellular function. This type of laser-tissue interaction may be used to treat neurological tissue, musculoskeletal tissue, and other soft tissues. 22 Laser processing of biomaterialsEfforts to examine laser-material interaction for biomedical device applications have largely paralleled efforts to examine laser-tissue interaction for clinical medical applications. Some of the earliest applications of lasers for processing synthetic biomaterials involved assessment of laser welding as an alternative to conventional investment soldering. As noted by Eliades e...

Bio-functionalization of silicon and its applications in mammalian and cancer cell manipulation and proliferation

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Surface modification of magnesium and its alloys for biomedical applications

“…The effect of different types of laser treatments on improving the corrosion resistance of Mg alloys is addressed by Dutta Majumdar and Manna (2013, chap. The importance of surface modification of biomaterials by lasers has been addressed by Dahotre, Paital, Samant, and Daniel (2010), Narayan andGoering (2011), andBandyopadhyay, Balla, Roy, andBose (2011). The importance of surface modification of biomaterials by lasers has been addressed by Dahotre, Paital, Samant, and Daniel (2010), Narayan andGoering (2011), andBandyopadhyay, Balla, Roy, andBose (2011).…”

Rapid, Chemical-Free Generation of Optically Scattering Structures in Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Using a CO2 Laser for Lightweight and Flexible Photovoltaic Applications

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