The relationship and functional links between human age, growth, and biomedical implants: A review on the application of bulk and nanomaterials

Abstract

AbstractBiomaterials are synthetic materials used in making devices for replacing parts of a living being and to function efficiently while interacting with living tissue. Contrary to orthodox medicine in which damaged parts are amputated, the emergence of biomaterials has changed the trend. Different biomaterials including biomedical implants are being developed for different uses within the biomedical field. Thus, biomedical implants are a rapidly advancing class of biomaterials that are currently used for the replacement of diseased parts or damaged tissues in the human body which may be either soft or hard tissues. These materials are developed to meet the structural and biocompatibility needs; hence, they are expected to be safe and acceptable to the human body system as the patient grows. Therefore, the age group and growth rate of the patients that need biomedical implants are parts of the critical factors that required adequate attention. Accordingly, this paper reviews the effects of the human age group and growth on the characteristics and responses of biomedical implants developed from bulk or nanomaterials for use in the human body system. Since, growth is a function of the age group in humans, and the three major age groups respond to growth at different rates, thus, the need to pay adequate attention to this. The review provides suitable information on the demand from each age group and provides the necessary guides on the selection of appropriate biomaterials with respect to age and growth. Hence, the need to have classifications of implants referring to; childhood implants, adolescent implants, and adult implants that focused on challenges that are common to each group.