Material-tissue interface

Abstract

The interface between prosthetic materials and body tissues has become important thanks to the extensive use of bioimplants and artificial internal organs. The long-term function and survival of implanted prostheses depend on the stability of the material-tissue interface. The methods in current use for the fixation of implanted prostheses are mainly based on mechanical linkages which are inherently unstable. The manifestations of instability are seen in clinical phenomena such as prosthetic thrombosis and failure of skin-prosthetic linkage. A less vulnerable approach to stablising material-prosthetic interface would be the development of chemical bonding which has already been accomplished at the bone-bioglass ceramic level. The approach may have wider relevance to the linkage of polymeric materials to body tissues.