Biodegradable implant materials

Abstract

Implants are medical devices that have critical importance for human health. The functions expected from implant materials have increased with the advancement of medicine and engineering. Implants are used for different purposes in different areas of the body. While some implants must be permanent in the body to fulfill their duties, some implants must be removed from the implanted area after a certain period. If an implant is to be removed from the relevant area after a certain period, an operation is required for this and then, there will be a healing process. The use of biodegradable implant materials eliminates the need for this additional operation. Biodegradable materials leave their place to the tissue gradually in a certain period. Biodegradable implant materials are one of the popular research areas today and many studies are carried out in this field every year. In this chapter, information about implants, biomaterials, biodegradability concept, biodegradable metals, and biodegradable polymers is shared. Also, examples of the use of biodegradable materials in biomedical applications are included.