Interaction between tissues and implantable materials.

Interaction between tissues and implantable materials is a factor of critical importance in biocompatibility studies. Bioactivity of implants is expected when the resorption or controlled integration of the implant with surrounding tissues is required. On the contrary, biomaterial inertness is suitable in the case of most load-bearing implants. Both desired and undesired consequences of partial implant biodegradation are discussed on the base of the authors' experimental work done on alumina and carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon composites (CFRC). Two examples of investigations of the interaction between bioceramics (CFRC, alumina, hydroxyapatite, and tricalcium phosphate) and cells in culture are shown as an alternative to the methods based on experimental implantation. The future of research on biomaterial-tissue interaction is discussed with respect to the developments in tissue engineering.