Biocompatibility Issues of Biomaterials

The history of biomaterials started with gold and ivory, when these materials were used by the Egyptians and Romans before the twentieth century. Biomaterial is defined as any non-vital materials used in medical devices, intended to interact with biological systems. An important property that differentiates a biomaterial from other material is its biocompatibility. It is a term that is referred to as the appropriate host response to biomaterials. The understanding of biocompatibility is becoming an interdisciplinary study, since the biocompatibility of biomaterials is a critical issue in limiting device longevity and functionality. Biocompatibility is a multifactorial property, and it can be illustrated as a dynamic and an ongoing process. Some materials, such as amalgam, acrylic resin, and bis-GMA have been used for years in dentistry. On the other hand controversies still arise to debate the biocompatibility of those materials. Measuring the biocompatibility of a material is very complex. It is based on three levels of tests. Since there is no guarantee that a material is 100 % safe, all regulations and standards are related to the risk and safety of the materials. It is a challenge for biomaterials scientists to provide biomaterials with good biocompatibility that are able to serve for the best result of medical treatments. Gadjah Mada University as a leading university in Indonesia pays a great interest in the field of research. Some studies in developing local biomaterials and medical devices conducted by researchers of Gadjah Mada University are presented in this chapter.