Tissue engineering Key REVISION QUESTIONS and CORRECT Answers

Biomaterialsa material intended to interface with biological systems to evaluate, treat, augment or replace any tissue, organ or function of the body. Can also be a solid material that occurs in and is made by living organisms such as chitin, fibrin or bone. Exclusively used in healthcare. Can make biomedical devices out of biomaterials. Requires properties as close to physical properties of tissue (flexibility and texture), stability, degradable (rate and mode of degradation), biocompatible, non-carcinogenic/toxic/allergenic/immunogenic, low cost, sterilisable, manufacturable. Ways cells communicateThrough connections with integrins and through chemical signalling like neurotransmitters, hormones, cytokines, ions - exocytosis and endocytosis, gap junctions. Types of copolymerAlternating copolymer. Block copolymer. Graft copolymer Matrikinessmall fragments that have been proteolytically degraded from the ECM and possess bioactivity - modulate cellular activity Class I Medical Deviceshort term items that do not internally contact the user - crutches, bedpans, tongue depressors, adhesive bandages Class II Medical Devicesminor invasive but still external and relatively short-term but the risk to the user is greater. Hearing aids, Blood pumps, catheters, contacts, electrodes.