biocompatibility

Biocompatibility refers to a material's ability to perform with an appropriate host response in a specific application. In medicine, this means a biomaterial should not be toxic, injurious, or physiologically reactive, nor should it cause immunological rejection.1

Biomaterials are foreign substances used in surgical interventions to assist, augment, sustain, or replace diseased organs. These can include synthetic and biological polymers, metals, and ceramics. Applications range from simple items like syringes to complex implantable devices for cardiovascular, orthopedic, and dental use.2

However, the use of biomaterials is limited by biocompatibility issues, which are adverse interactions between the material and host tissue. Optimizing these interactions is crucial for advancing medical applications. For instance, in cardiovascular devices, preventing blood coagulation (thrombosis) and platelet adhesion is a significant challenge.23