Surface properties and processes of the biomaterial-tissue interface (original) (raw)

At an implant site, a manmade material meets human tissue, and the manmade material is highly perturbed by the preceeding surgical procedure. The focus of the action, and thus the focus of scientific interest, is the interface between the foreign material and the tissue. The primary interaction occurs on a molecular scale, and involves adsorption and reactions of biomolecules, water and inorganic ions respectively from the bioliquid as well as dissolution of atomic, ionic or molecular fragments from the biomaterial. Successively changing conditions in the tissue, owing to the ongoing healing process and concerted modifications of the surface properties of the biomaterial, make the material-tissue interface a dynamic, non-reversible system in space and time. Secondary processes, induced by the primary processes, may occur far from the interface in the surrounding tissue or as systemic effects.