Abstract
The human body is a composite structure, completely constructed of biodegradable materials. This allows the cells of the body to remove and replace old or defective tissue with new material. Consequently, artificial resorbable biomaterials have been developed for application in regenerative medicine. We discuss here advantages and disadvantages of these bioresorbable materials for medical applications and give an overview of typically used metals, ceramics and polymers. Methods for the quantification of bioresorption in vitro and in vivo are described. The next challenge will be to better understand the interface between cell and material and to use this knowledge for the design of “intelligent” materials that can instruct the cells to build specific tissue geometries and degrade in the process.
Keywords
Graphical Abstract
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Williams DF (1987) Review: tissue-biomaterial interactions. J Mater Sci 22:3421–3445
Brown SA, Merritt K (1981) Fretting corrosion in saline and serum. J Biomed Mater Res 15:479–488
Williams DF, Clark GCF (1982) The corrosion of pure cobalt in physiological media. J Mater Sci 17:1675–1682
Williams DF (ed) (1985) Critical review of biocompatibility. CRC, Boco Raton
Konttinen YT, Zhao D, Beklen A, Ma G, Takagi M, Kivelä-Rajamäki M, Ashammakhi N, Santavirta S (2005) The microenvironment around total hip replacement prostheses. Clin Orthop Relat Res 430:28–38
Arshady R (2003) Polymeric biomaterials: chemistry, concepts, criteria. In: Arshady R (ed) Introduction to polymeric biomaterials: the polymeric biomaterials series. Citus Books, London
Ratner BA, Horbett TA (2004) Some background concepts. In: Ratner BD, Schoen FJ, Lemons JE (eds) Biomaterials science: an introduction to materials in medicine. Elsevier, San Diego
Schoen FJ, Anderson JM (2004) Host response to biomaterials and their evaluation. In: Ratner BD, Schoen FJ, Lemons JE (eds) Biomaterials science: an introduction to materials in medicine. Elsevier, San Diego
Törmälä P, Laiho J, Helevirta P, Rokkanen P, Vainionpää S, Böstman O, Kilpikari J (1986) Resorbable surgical devices. In: Proceedings of the fifth international conference on polymers in medicine and surgery, Leeuwenhost Congress Centre, The Netherlands, pp 16/1–16/6
Törmälä P, Pohjonen T, Rokkanen P (1998) Bioabsorbable polymers: materials technology and surgical applications. Proc Instn Mech Engrs 212:101–111
Schedl R, Fasol P (1979) Achilles tendon repair with the plantaris tendon compared with repair using polyglycol threads. J Trauma 19:189–194
Schmitt EE, Polistina RA (1975) Surgical dressing of absorbable polymers. US Pat. 3875937
Bowald S, Busch C, Erikson I (1978) Arterial grafting with polyglactin mesh in pigs. Lancet 311:153
Bowald S, Busch C, Erikson I (1979) Arterial regeneration following polyglactin 910 suture mesh grafting. Surgery 86:722–729
Audell L, Bowald S, Busch C, Erikson I (1980) Polyglactin mesh grafting of the pig aorta. Acta Chir Scand 146:97–99
Greisler HP, Kim DU, Price JB, Voorhes AB (1985) Arterial regenerative activity after prosthetic implantation. Arch Surg 120:315–323
Delany HM, Solanki B, Driscoll WB (1985) Use of absorbable mesh for splenorrhaphy and pelvic peritoneum reconstruction. Contemp Surg 27:11–15
Rokkanen P, Böstman O, Vianionpää S, Vihtonen K, Törmälä P, Laiho J, Kilpikari J, Tamminmäki M (1985) Biodegradable implants in fracture fixation: early results of treatment of fractures of the ankle. Lancet 1:1422–1424
Yamamuro T, Matsusue Y, Uchida A, Shimada K, Shimozaki E, Kitaoka K (1994) Bioabsorbable osteosynthetic implants of ultra-high strength poly-l-lactide: a clinical study. Int Orthop 18:332–340
Pelto-Vasenius K, Hirvensalo E, Vasenius J, Partio EK, Böstman O, Rokkanen P (1998) Redisplacement after ankle osteosynthesis with absorbable implants. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 117:159–162
Wolff J (2010) The classic: on the theory of fracture healing. Clin Orthop Relat Res 468:1052–1055
Landry M, Fleisch H (1964) The influence of immobilization on bone formation as evaluated by osseous incorporation of tetracycline. J Bone Joint Surg 46:764–771
Williams DF, Gore LF, Clark GCF (1983) Quantitative microradiography of cortical bone in disuse osteoporosis following fracture fixation. Biomaterials 4:285–288
Uthoff HK, Dubuc FL (1971) Bone structure changes in the dog under rigid internal fixation. Clin Orthop 81:165–170
Woo SLY, Akeson WH, Courts RD, Rutherford L, Doty D, Jemmott GF, Amiel D (1976) A comparison of cortical bone atrophy secondary to fixation with plates with large differences in bending stiffness. J Bone Joint Surg Am 58:190–195
Song G, Song S (2007) A possible biodegradable magnesium implant material. Adv Mater Eng 9:298–302
Williams DF (2009) Leading opinion: on the nature of biomaterials. Biomaterials 30:5897–5909
Williams DF (1981) Biocompatibility of clinical implant materials. CRC, Boca Raton
Williams D (2006) New interests in magnesium. Med Device Technol 17:9–10
Jacobs JJ, Gilbert JL, Urban RM (1998) Current concepts review—corrosion of metal orthopaedic implants. J Bone Joint Surg Am 80:268–282
Williams DF (ed) (1983) Biocompatibility of orthopaedic implant materials. CRC, Boca Raton
Brown SA, Merritt K (1981) Fretting corrosion in saline and serum. J Biomed Mater Res 15:479–488
Hallab N, Merritt K, Jacobs JJ (2001) Metal sensitivity in patients with orthopaedic implants. J Bone Joint Surg Am 83:428–436
Jonas L, Fulda G, Radeck R (2001) Biodegradation of titanium implants after long time insertion used for the treatment of fractured upper and lower jaws through osteosynthesis: elemental analysis by electron microscopy and EDX or EELS. Ultrastruct Pathol 25:375–383
Murray CJL, Lopez AD (1996) The global burden of disease. World Health Organization, Geneva
Moravej M, Purnama A, Fiset M, Couet J, Mantovani D (2010) Acta Biomater 6:1843–1851
Mueller PP, May T, Perz A, Hauser H, Peuster M (2006) Control of smooth muscle cell proliferation by ferrous iron. Biomaterials 27:2193–2200
Lambotte MA (1932) L’utilisation du magnesium comme materiel perdu dans l’osteosynthèse. Societé nationale de chirurgie 1325–1334
Staiger M, Pietak A, Huadmai J, Dias G (2006) Magnesium and its alloys as orthopedic biomaterials: a review. Biomaterials 27:1728–1734
Cardarelli F (2000) Less common non-ferrous metals. Materials handbook. Springer, London, pp 99–107
Heublein B, Rohde R, Kaese V, Niemeyer M, HartungW, Haveric A (2003) Biocorrosion of magnesium alloys: a new principle in cardiovascular implant technology? Heart 89:651–656
Mani G, Feldman MD, Patel D, Agrawal CM (2007) Coronary stents: a materials perspective. Biomaterials 28:1689–1710
Witte F, Kaese V, Haferkamp H, Switzer E, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Wirth CJ, Windhagen H (2005) In vivo corrosion of four magnesium alloys and the associated bone response. Biomaterials 26:3557–3563
Erne P, Schier M, Resink TJ (2006) The road to bioabsorbable stents: reaching clinical reality. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 29:11–16
Gu X, Zheng Y, Cheng Y, Zhong S, Xi T (2009) In vitro corrosion and biocompatibility of binary magnesium alloys. Biomaterials 30:484–498
Peuster M, Fink C, von Schnakenburg C, Hausdorf G (2002) Dissolution of tungsten coils does not produce systemic toxicity, but leads to elevated levels of tungsten in the serum and recanalization of the previously occluded vessel. Cardiol Young 12:229–235
Peuster M, Fink C, von Schnakenburg C (2003) Biocompatibility of corroding tungsten coils: in vitro assessment of degradation kinetics and cytotoxicity on human cells. Biomaterials 24:4057–4061
Hench LL, Etheridge EC (1982) Biomaterials: an interfacial approach, Academic, New York
Davidge RW (1984) Structural degradation of ceramics. Biomaterials 5:37–41
Klein CP, Driessen AA, de Groot K, van den Hoof A (1983) Biodegradation behavior of various calcium phosphate materials in bone tissue. J Biomed Mater Res 17:769–784
Klein CP, de Groot K, Driessen AA, van der Lubbe HB (1985) Interaction of biodegradable beta-whitlockite ceramics with bone tissue: an in vivo study. Biomaterials 6:189–192
Winkler T, Hoenig E, Huber G, Janssen R, Fritsch D, Gildenhaar R, Berger G, Morlock MM, Schilling AF (2010) Osteoclastic bioresorption of biomaterials: two- and three-dimensional imaging and quantification. Int J Artif Organs 33:198–203
Winkler T, Hoenig E, Gildenhaar R, Berger G, Fritsch D, Janssen R, Morlock MM, Schilling AF (2010) Volumetric analysis of osteoclastic bioresorption of calcium phosphate ceramics with different solubilities. Acta Biomater 6:4127–4135
LeGeros RZ (1993) Biodegradation and bioresorption of calcium phosphate ceramics. Clin Mater 14:65–88
Lu J, Descamps M, Dejou J, Koubi G, Hardouin P, Lemaitre J, Proust JP (2002) The biodegradation mechanism of calcium phosphate biomaterials in bone. J Biomed Mater Res 63:408–412
Lange T, Schilling AF, Peters F, Mujas J, Wicklein D, Amling M (2011) Size dependent induction of proinflammatory cytokines and cytotoxicity of particulate beta-tricalciumphosphate in vitro. Biomaterials 32:4067–4075
Lange T, Schilling AF, Peters F, Haag F, Morlock MM, Rueger JM, Amling M (2009) Proinflammatory and osteoclastogenic effects of beta-tricalciumphosphate and hydroxyapatite particles on human mononuclear cells in vitro. Biomaterials 30:5312–5318
Klein CP, de Groot K, Driessen AA, Ven der Lubbe HBM (1985) Interaction of biodegradable β-whitlockite with bone tissue: an in vivo study. Biomaterials 6:189–192
Lucas N, Bienaime C, Belloy C, Queneudec M, Silvestre F, Nava-Saucedo JE (2008) Polymer biodegradation: mechanisms and estimation techniques. Chemosphere 73:429–442
Smith R, Williams DF (1985) The degradation of a synthetic polyester by a lysomal enzyme. J Mater Sci Lett 4:547–549
Smith R, Oliver C, Williams DF (1987) The enzymatic degradation of polymers in vitro. J Biomed Mater Res 21:991–1003
Marchant RE, Miller KM, Anderson JM (1984) In vivo biocompatibility studies. V. In vivo leukocyte interactions with biomer. J Biomed Mater Res 18:1169–1190
Williams DF, Smith R, Oliver C (1986) The degradation of 14C-labelled polymers by enzymes. In: Christel P, Meunier A, Lee AJC (eds) Biological and biomechanical performance of biomaterials. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Pişkin E (1994) Review: biodegradable polymers as biomaterials. J Biomater Sci Polym Ed 6:775–795
Herrmann JB, Kelly RJ, Higgins GA (1970) Polyglycolic acid sutures. Arch Surg 100:486–490
Göpferich A (1996) Mechanisms of polymer degradation and erosion. Biomaterials 17:103–114
Wu L, Ding J (2004) In vitro degradation of three-dimensional porous poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds for tissue engineering. Biomaterials 25:5821–5830
Rokkanen PU, Böstman O, Hirvensalo E, Mäkelä EA, Partio EK, Pätiälä H, Vainionpää SI, Vihtonen K, Törmälä P (2000) Bioabsorbable fixation in orthopaedic surgery and traumatology. Biomaterials 21:2607–2613
Pihlajamäki H, Böstman O, Hirvensalo E, Törmälä P, Rokkanen P (1992) Absorbable pins of self-reinforced poly-L-lactic acid for fixation of fractures and osteotomies. J Bone Joint Surg Br 74:853–857
Pitt CG (1990) In: Chasin M, Langer R (eds) Biodegradable polymers as drug delivery systems. Marcel Dekker, New York
Allock HR (1990) In: Chasin M, Langer R (eds). Biodegradable polymers as drug delivery systems. Marcel Dekker, New York
Qui LY, Zhu KJ (2000). Novel biodegradable polyphosphazenes containing glycine ethyl ester and benzyl ester of amino acethydroxamic acid as cosubsituents: synthesis, characterization and degradation properties. J Appl Polym Sci 77:2955–2987
Ng SY, Vandamme T, Tayler MS, Heller J (1997) Synthesis and erosion studies of self-catalysed poly(orthoester)s. Macromolecules 30:770–772
Doi Y, Kitamura S, Abe H (1995) Microbial synthesis and characterization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate). Macromolecules 28:4822–4828
Li HY, Du RL, Chang J (2005) Fabrication, characterization, and in vitro degradation of composite scaffolds based on PHBV and bioactive glass. J Biomater Appl 20:137–155
Gunatillake PA, Adhikari R (2003) Biodegradable synthetic polymers for tissue engineering. Eur Cell Mater 5:1–16
Rezwan K, Chen QZ, Blaker JJ, Boccaccini AR (2006) Biodegradable and bioactive porous polymer/inorganic composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Biomaterials 27:3413–3431
Temenoff JS, Mikos AG (2000) Injectable biodegradable materials for orthopaedic tissue engineering. Biomaterials 21:2405–2412
Ishaug-Riley SL, Crane-Kruger GM, Yaszemski MJ, Mikos AG (1998) Three-dimensional culture of rat calvarial osteoblasts in porous biodegradable polymers. Biomaterials 19:1405–1412
Tangpasuthadol V, Pendharkar SM, Kohn J (2000) Hydrolytic degradation of tyrosine-derived polycarbonates, a class of new biomaterials: part I study of model compounds. Biomaterials 21:2371–2378
Tangpasuthadol V, Pendharkar SM, Peterson RC, Kohn J (2000) Hydrolytic degradation of tyrosine-derived polycarbonates, a class of new biomaterials. part II: study of model compounds. Biomaterials 21:2379–2387
Mandaogade PM, Satturwar PM, Fulzele SV, Gogte BB, Dorle AK (2002) Rosin derivatives: novel film forming materials for controlled drug delivery. React Funct Polym 50:233–242
Satturwar PM, Mandaogade PM, Fulzele SV, Darwhekar GN, Joshi SB, Dorle AK (2002) Synthesis and evaluation of rosin based polymers as film coating materials. Drug Dev Ind Pharm 28:383–389
Sahu NH, Mandaogade PM, Deshmukh AM, Meghre VS, Dorle AK (1999) Biodegradation studies of rosin-glycerol ester derivative. J Bioact Compat Polym 14:344–360
Friess W (1998) Collagen-biomaterial for drug delivery. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 45:113–136
Klammert U, Ignatius A, Wolfram U, Reuther T, Gbureck U (2011) In vivo degradation of low temperature calcium and magnesium phosphate ceramics in a heterotopic model. Acta Biomater 7:3469–3475
Walton M, Cotton NJ (2007) Long-term in vivo degradation of poly-L-lactide (PLLA) in bone. J Biomater Appl 21:395–411
Schilling AF, Linhart W, Filke S, Gebauer M, Schinke T, Rueger JM, Amling M (2004) Resorbability of bone substitute biomaterials by human osteoclasts. Biomaterials 25:3963–3972
Xia Z, Triffitt JT (2006) A review on macrophage responses to biomaterials. Biomed Mater 1:1–9
Hoebertz A, Arnett TR (2003) Isolated osteoclast cultures. Methods Mol Med 80:53–64
Chambers TJ, Revell PA, Fuller K, Athanasou NA (1984) Resorption of bone by isolated rabbit osteoclasts. J Cell Sci 66:383–399
Boyde A, Jones SJ (1987) Early scanning electron microscopic studies of hard tissue resorption: their relation to current concepts reviewed. Scanning Microsc 1:369–381
Jones SJ, Boyde A, Ali NN (1984) The resorption of biological and non-biological substrates by cultured avian and mammalian osteoclasts. Anat Embryol (Berl) 170:247–256
Oursler MJ, Collin-Osdoby P, Anderson F, Li L, Webber D, Osdoby P (1991) Isolation of avian osteoclasts: improved techniques to preferentially purify viable cells. J Bone Miner Res 6:375–385
Cao JJ, Wronski TJ, Iwaniec U, Phleger L, Kurimoto P, Boudignon B, Halloran BP (2005) Aging increases stromal/osteoblastic cell-induced osteoclastogenesis and alters the osteoclast precursor pool in the mouse. J Bone Miner Res 20:1659–1668
Yasuda H, Shima N, Nakagawa N, Yamaguchi K, Kinosaki M, Mochizuki S, Tomoyasu A, Yano K, Goto M, Murakami A, Tsuda E, Morinaga T, Higashio K, Udagawa N, Takahashi N, Suda T (1998) Osteoclast differentiation factor is a ligand for osteoprotegerin/osteoclastogenesis-inhibitory factor and is identical to TRANCE/RANKL. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95:3597–3602
Fuller K, Ross JL, Szewczyk KA, Moss R, Chambers TJ (2010) Bone is not essential for osteoclast activation. PLoS One 5:e12837
Boyde A, Ali NN, Jones SJ (1985) Optical and scanning electron microscopy in the single osteoclast resorption assay. Scan Electron Microsc 3:1259–1271
Salgado AJ, Coutinho OP, Reis RL (2004) Bone tissue engineering: state of the art and future trends. Macromol Biosci 4:743–765
Murugan R, Ramakrishna S (2004) Bioresorbable composite bone paste using polysaccharide based nano hydroxyapatite. Biomaterials 25:3829–3835
Witte F, Eliezer A, Cohen S (2010) The history, challenges and the future of biodegradable metal implants. Adv Mater Res 95:3–7
Witte F, Fischer J, Beckmann F, Störmer M, Hort N (2008) Three-dimensional microstructural analysis of Mg–Al–Zn alloys by synchrotron-radiation-based microtomography. Scripta Materialia 58:453–456
Shikinami Y, Matsusue Y, Nakamura T (2005) The complete process of bioresorption and bone replacement using devices made of forged composites of raw hydroxyapatite particles/poly l-lactide (F-u-HA/PLLA). Biomaterials 26:5542–5551
Ritman EL (2004) Micro-computed tomography-current status and developments. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 6:185–208
Pihlajamäki H, Kinnunen J, Böstman O (1997) In vivo monitoring of the degradation process of bioresorbable polymeric implants using magnetic resonance imaging. Biomaterials 18:1311–1315
Shoulders MD, Raines RT (2009) Collagen structure and stability. Annu Rev Biochem 78:929–958
Kalfakakou V, Simons TJ (1990) Anionic mechanisms of zinc uptake across the human red cell membrane. J Physiol 421:485–497
Yun Y, Dong Z, Shanov V, Schulz M, Heineman W, Kumta P, Sfeir C, Yarmolenko S (2008) Mg nanowires for biology and nanomedicine. Invention disclosure UC 108-072
Shanov V, Witte F, Schulz M, Yun Y, Kumta P, Sfeir, Yarmolenko (2008) Composition and method for producing magnesium based biodegradable composite implants. Invention disclosure UC 108-91
Mast D, Shanov V, Jayasinghe C, Schulz M (2008) Use of carbon nanotube thread, ribbon, and arrays for the transmission and reception of electromagnetic signals and radiation. Invention disclosure UC 109-35
Schulz M, Shanov V, Sundaramurthy S, Yun Y, Wagner W, Nagy P, Fox C, Witte F, Xu Z, Yarmolenko s (2009) Corrosion measurement for biodegradable metal implants. Invention disclosure UC 109-85
Shanov V, Schulz M, Yun Y, Rai D, Xue D (2009) Composition and method for magnesium biodegradable material for medical implant applications. Invention disclosure UC 109-89
Schulz MJ, Shanov VN, Sankar J, Witte F, Wagner W, Borovetz H, Kumta P, Sfeir C (2009) Permanent and biodegradable responsive implants that expand and adapt to the human body. Invention disclosure UC 109-111
Chen L, Xie J, Srivatsan M, Varadan VK (2006) Magnetic nanotubes and their potential use in neuroscience applications. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng 6172:61720
Conserva E, Lanuti A, Menini M (2010) Cell behavior related to implant surfaces with different microstructure and chemical composition: an in vitro analysis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 25:1099–1107
Engler AJ, Sen S, Sweeney HL, Discher DE (2006) Matrix elasticity directs stem cell lineage specification. Cell 126:677–689
Acknowledgments
T.W. was supported by a grant from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Science (BMBF, 16SV5057). M.M.M. is consultant to DePuy and Zimmer. Institutional support was received from Ceramtec, Aesculap, DePuy, and Zimmer. No royalties. A.F.S. has in the past 5 years provided consulting services to Biomet, Curasan, Eucro, Heraeus, IPB, and Johnson & Johnson. No royalties.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Das, D. et al. (2011). Bioresorption and Degradation of Biomaterials. In: Kasper, C., Witte, F., Pörtner, R. (eds) Tissue Engineering III: Cell - Surface Interactions for Tissue Culture. Advances in Biochemical Engineering Biotechnology, vol 126. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2011_119
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2011_119
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-28281-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-28282-9
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)