This document discusses biomaterials used in veterinary medicine. It defines biomaterials as any synthetic or natural substances used medically or surgically to replace or augment tissues or organs. Common biomaterials include sutures, bone plates, screws, and pacemakers. Ideal biomaterials are biologically inert, strong, easily sterilized, and non-toxic. The document outlines various types of biomaterials including metals, ceramics, adhesives, and hemostatic agents. It also discusses host response to implants and factors considered in selecting appropriate biomaterials for different applications in veterinary surgery and medicine.

1. VETERINARY COLLEGE HASSAN
VETERINARY SURGERY &RADIOLOGY
SUBMITTED TO:
Dr B R Balappanavar
HOD
Dept of VSR
SUBMITTED BY:
Swaroop R
Jr MVSc
Dept of VSR

2. BIOMATERIAL
Any substance that has been specifically engineered to interact with biological systems for
Medical/Veterinary use.
Any substance or combination of substances synthetic or natural in origin which can be used for
any period of time as a whole or as a part of a system which treats, augments or replaces any
tissue,organ or function of the body.
Eg:Sutures,bone plates,Screws,Cardiac pacemaker etc..

3. Uses of biomaterials
Use of biomaterials Example
Replacement of diseased and damaged
part
Artificial hip joint
Assist in healing Sutures, bone plates and screws
Improve function Cardiac pacemaker, intra-ocular lens
Aid to diagnosis Probes and catheters
Aid to treatment Catheters

4. IDEAL IMPLANT CHARACTERISTICS
 Complete biological inertness
 Sufficient strength to hold during healing
 Good handling characteristics
 Easily sterilizable, Non allergic
Non corrosive, Non toxic
 Non carcinogenic, Non teratogenic
 It should be inexpensive

5. BIOCOMPATIBILITYAND HOST RESPONCE
 Biocompatibility — The ability of a material to perform with an appropriate host response in a
specific application.
 Host Response — The response of the host organism (local and systemic) to the implanted
material or device.
Biocompatibility evaluation include evaluation for toxicological effects and blood compatibility.
Toxicity of the material is estimated on the basis of chemical constituents and both in vitro and in
vivo testing.
Materials with good blood compatibility are those which do not denature plasma proteins,
induce thrombus formation or damage blood elements.

6. TISSUE RESPONSE TO IMPLANT MATERIALS
 Local response
 Systemic response
Four types of responses may occur:
Minimal response: in it a thin layer of fibrous tissue is formed adjacent to the implant.
Chemically induced response: in it an acute mild inflammatory response occurs or a chronic
inflammatory response develops
 Physically induced response: it is an inflammatory response to particulate material or toimplant
movement in conjugation with shape or surface roughness.
 Necrosis.

7. SELECTION OF PROPER BIOMATERIAL
The choice of a specific biomedical material is determined by consideration of the following:
1- A proper specification of the desired function for the material
2- An accurate characterization of the environment in which it must function, and the effects that
environment will have on the properties of the material
3- A delineation of the length of time the material must function

8. IMPLANT FORMS
1 Sutures: these are the materials used to close the wound. They remain intact until union occurs
and cause minimal tissue reaction.
2. Meshes: surgical meshes are used to repair diaphragmatic, abdominal and peritoneal hernias
and to close and provide support to thoracic wall defects after segmental rib removal.
nonabsorbable meshes are polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene and polylropylene meshes.
Absorbable meshes are polyglactin 910 and polyglycolic acid meshes.

9. . Tubular implants: These are made primarily of synthetic nonabsorbable polymers and materials
such as silicon rubber and polyvinyl chloride.
These may be coated with other substances to enhance biocompatibility and improve longevity.
Eg:Coating of Urinary catheters of dog with sustained-release varnish of chlorhexidine to increase
efficacy. Segev et al. (2013)
Solid implants: These are mainly made of ceramics and metal materials. These are coated with
biocompatible coatings to decrease thrombogenicity or to enhance bone growth.

10. TYPES OF BIOMATERIALS
1. Organic absorbable materials Eg: . Surgical catgut,Collagen
2. Synthetic absorbable materials Eg: Polyglycolic acid, Polyglactin 910
3. Organic nonabsorbable materials Eg: Silk, Cotton, Linen
4. Synthetic nonabsorbable materials Eg: Polyester (decron), Polyethylene, Silicon rubber
5. Metals Eg:stainless steel type 316L, cobalt-chromium alloys & titanium & its alloy
6. Ceramics Eg: Alumina (Al2O3), Zirconia (ZrO2)
7. Adhesive glues Eg: Autologous fibrin, Cyanoacrylates
8. Hemostatic agents Eg: Absorbable gelatin sponge

11. METALS
The most commonly used metallic implant materials are stainless steel type 316L, cobalt-
chromium alloys and titanium & its alloys.
Stainless steel type 316L: it is composed of iron(55- 60%), chromium (17-20%), nickel(10-
14%),molybdenum(2-4%) and carbon. It is used as surgical suture, surgical staples and orthopedic
implants. . Steiner et al. (1992)
Karen et al. (2007)

13. 2. Cobalt-chromium alloys: These are used as orthopedic implants and allows the best
combination of abrasion resistance, low corrosion characteristics and high fatigue strength.
3. Titanium & its alloys: Titanium is most resistant to corrosion of metal implants and is most
brittle. It is very expensive and is used as surgical staples and orthopedic bone plates and screws
Voss et al. (2009)

14. CERAMICS
Ceramics are used for the repair and restoration of diseased or damaged parts of the musculo-
skeletal system. Bio-ceramics may be:
1- Bioinert like Alumina (Al2O3), Zirconia (ZrO2)
2- Resorbable like tri-calcium phosphate (TCP)
3- Bioactive like Hydroxyapatite, bioactive glasses, and glass-ceramics
4- Porous for tissue in-growth (hydroxyapatite)

15. ADHESIVES
Autologous fibrin:It is composed of fibronectin, thrombin, apoprotin, fibrinogen, factor Xlll and
calcium chloride and is obtained by collecting plasma from the animal before surgery. It is used
for fixation of skin grafts and stabilization of nerve anastomoses. Visser et al. (2011)
Cyanoacrylates: These polymerize in the presence of moisture to produce a strong flexible bond.
These are used for closure of skin incisions, tail docking ear cropping etc
Fabrice et al. (2013)

16. HEMOSTATIC AGENTS
Absorbable gelatin sponge: It is prepared from purified gelatin solution. It is supplied as small
gelatin sheets that may be cut to the desired size and held in place.
Oxidized regenerated cellulose: produced by controlled oxidation of regenerated cellulose.
Bone wax: it is a mixture of bee wax, paraffin and isopropyl palmitate. Bone wax controls
bleeding from bone surface by acting as a mechanical barrier. Suwanpratheeb et al. (2014)
Collagen absorbable hemostat: it comes in the form of a sponge like pad. Absorption occurs by
phagocytosis and monocytic enzymatic degradation

17. CONCLUSION
Proper use of biomaterials helps in rapid recovery of the animal ,prolong the life of animal ,save
the life of animal.
It helps in saving the valuable time
Helps in reducing the pain of the animal
Acts as replacement for lost part or organs
Acts as a aid for disease diagnosis
Proper utilization of the recent advances in tissue engineering and biomaterials plays a valuable
role in Veterinary Medicine

18. REFERENCES
Ireifej, S., Marino, D. and Loughin, C., 2012. Nano total hip replacement in 12 dogs. Veterinary
Surgery, 41(1), pp.130-135.
Steiner, A., Braun, U. and Waldvogel, A., 1992. Comparison of staple and suture techniques for
partial typhlectomy in the cow: a prospective clinical study of 40 cases. Journal of Veterinary
Medicine Series A, 39(1‐10), pp.26-37.
Peng, C.C., Ben-Shlomo, A., Mackay, E.O., Plummer, C.E. and Chauhan, A., 2012. Drug delivery by
contact lens in spontaneously glaucomatous dogs. Current eye research, 37(3), pp.204-211.
Rossignol, F., Mespoulhes‐Rivière, C., Vitte, A., Lechartier, A. and Boening, K.J., 2014. Standing
laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty using cyanoacrylate for preventing recurrence of acquired
strangulated inguinal herniation in 10 stallions. Veterinary surgery, 43(1), pp.6-11

19. REFERENCES
Suwanprateeb, J., Kiertkrittikhoon, S., Kintarak, J., Suvannapruk, W., Thammarakcharoen, F. and
Rukskul, P., 2014. In vivo assessment of new resorbable PEG–PPG–PEG copolymer/starch bone
wax in bone healing and tissue reaction of bone defect in rabbit model. Journal of Materials
Science: Materials in Medicine, 25(9), pp.2131-2139.
Visser, L.C., Arnoczky, S.P., Caballero, O. and Gardner, K.L., 2011. Evaluation of the use of an
autologous platelet-rich fibrin membrane to enhance tendon healing in dogs. American journal of
veterinary research, 72(5), pp.699-705.
Textbook ofSmall animal surgery Theresa Welch Fossum