David Blicq  dblicq@rrc.mb.ca  (update 01/04/2010)         DIRECTORY I BIO I NOTICE BOARD

Health Products and Biomimicry

"Health products" can include an enormous range of products and materials, all of which impact upon human health some way. "Bio-materials" are natural or synthetic substances that interact  with biological systems or act as biomedical or diagnostic devices.

In the health field, these biomaterials can include metals, fibres, ceramics, polymers, glasses, carbons, and many novel composite materials. Biomaterials can be used naturally or in complex formats, as molded or machined parts, as coatings and biofilms or as foams and fabrics.

Example "health products"  are diverse,  including (but not limited to):

	Biomedical devices
	Antimicrobials
	Medicines / Nutraceuticals / Pharmaceuticals
	Pesticides / Herbicides
	Biofilms
	Polymers / Ceramics
	Gene technology
	Nano-biomaterials
	Cells and tissues

Biocompatibility - describes how well a material (regardless of source) works with a living system. In any living system only the host's own tissues are truly inert - all other materials (synthetic or natural) will illicit some level of response. Successful integration of a health product with a patient's own tissues is therefore absolutely critical. Biocompatibility and the risk of rejection due to  the hosts' immunological response is a significant challenge.  This is becoming a growing challenge since those awaiting replacement / transplantation of organs greatly outnumber the number of available donors. 

Any biomaterial, (whether of natural source or fabricated from an alloy, polymer, or a ceramic) must display continuing biocompatibility, meaning that it does not elicit a negative response over time. This applies to pharmaceutical products, antimicrobials, bone or tissue replacements, etc. In general, naturally sourced materials tend to display greater compatibility with living tissues, although there are many exceptions.

The use of biomimicry / biomimetics to design highly compatible and durable materials has the potential to improve the quality of life for millions worldwide.