Preface

Globally, there is a continuous concern for research and development of alloys for medical and biomedical applications. The goal is to improve both the classic technologies of implant implementation and the technologies of synthesis of the biomaterials from which they are executed, with a final aim to promote a new generation of multifunctional implants with long-term performances.

Biomaterials have been used for several thousand years by ancient cultures in Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Italy, China, and Central and South America to replace different parts of the human bone system. These materials were used and developed before coining of the modern term "biompatibility," which was introduced about 60 years ago when researchers began to study and develop this field.

Biomaterials must be **biocompatible**, meaning they must be non-toxic and not release ions so that they can be tolerated by the human body for long periods of time (decades). They must also have certain **mechanical properties**, including mechanical stability depending on the application in which they are used, and they must resist demands and not break or deform excessively over time. Finally, biomaterials require **efficiency**, that is, they must be reliable, accessible, cost-effective, easy to process, and sterile. Considering all this, when obtaining biomaterials, raw materials of high purity are selected and the influence of the alloying elements must be studied.

The global biomaterials market is constantly growing due to an increasing population that is susceptible to diseases, such as cardiovascular, dental, orthopedic, and neurological conditions. Expansion and improvement of the market are necessary to improve the health of patients and extend the duration of use of biomaterials in the human body.

This book provides an overview of biomaterials science with a focus on health and medical applications that can be improved with new biomaterials with non-allergenic elements. These materials are designed to meet functional requirements and overcome the disadvantages of classical alloys used as biomaterials in human tissue.

Over seven chapters, this volume explains the problems created by classical alloys and examines how the new generation of biomaterials helps both doctors and patients. What is remarkable for the domain of biomaterials is the evolution and substantial efforts that have been made every day for constant improvement.

This book is designed for students, doctors, patients, and researchers worldwide.

**Petrică Vizureanu (Academic editor)** Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași, Romania

**Claudia Manuela da Cunha Ferreira Botelho (Co-editor)** University of Minho, Portugal

**1**

Section 1

Medical Devices
