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"Bio-inspired" polymers
The swift development of prosthesis implantation is linked to issues as diverse as design, material selection, fitting or even durability of prostheses. The keen interest for such a technique and proven success rates lead to an escalation of demands from the medical profession and from patients themselves.
Nowadays, few are the medical specialties that do not resort to substitutes (prostheses, implants) to replace defective parts of the body : general, cardiovascular, orthopaedic or cosmetic surgery, endocrinology, ophthalmology, dentistry…
With a view toward innovation and research for less invasive methods, the nature and properties [1] of the constituent materials of these prostheses must meet the so-called 3B rule : biocompatibility, biofunctionality and biodurability [2].
Teams of physico-chemists focus on studying the interactions between the material and living tissue, and check their biocompatibility, i.e. the innocuousness of the implanted material with the living environment. Biofunctionality consists in matching the properties of a biomaterial and its use.
The polymerists from Montpellier prepare biodegradable structures with complex mechanical properties for temporary applications (ostheosynthesis screws). Once it has accomplished its function, the polymer is degraded by the body and the degradation products are eliminated. There remains no further "trace" of the prosthesis and the long-term adverse effects are no longer deplored, thanks to these ever more innovative, efficient and readily available implants.
Institut des biomolécules Max Mousseron, CNRS-Universités Montpellier 1 et 2
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