Biomaterials

Preface

Many believe that it is impossible to write a book relating to materials used in medicine. There are several reasons for this dilemma. Books that emphasize the materials’ concepts are founded on volumetric replacement and biological response and less on a mechanical or other analysis of the design environment. The gap is even larger when considering organ function that will require materials integration. Other monographs that are focused on tissue engineering are also hard to gauge, because there is so much detail needed to define a scaffold structure, optimize the culturing environment, identify an implantation protocol, test in appropriate animal models, to establish when and how to assay, and to confirm a successful outcome. It is ...