Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Biomedical and Dental Materials > Biocompatible Materials Terms and Definitions

Biocompatible Materials

	Bone Substitutes - Synthetic or natural materials for the replacement of bones or bone tissue. They include hard tissue replacement polymers, natural coral, hydroxyapatite, beta-tricalcium phosphate, and various other biomaterials. The bone substitutes as inert materials can be incorporated into surrounding tissue or gradually replaced by original tissue.
	Coated Materials, Biocompatible - Biocompatible materials usually used in dental and bone implants that enhance biologic fixation, thereby increasing the bond strength between the coated material and bone, and minimize possible biological effects that may result from the implant itself.
	Polydioxanone - An absorbable suture material used also as ligating clips, as pins for internal fixation of broken bones, and as ligament reinforcement for surgically managed ligament injuries. Its promising characteristics are elasticity, complete biodegradability, and lack of side effects such as infections.

Biocompatible Materials Medical Definitions and Terms