Biocompatibility Testing

The insertion of a foreign material into the body induces a cascade of events, basically at the interface between the implanted material and the tissue, which results in the recognition of the material as foreign matter. The degree of this physiological response depends on the location of implantation and the composition and mechanical properties of the material. Thus, the body’s response to an implanted material is affected by a number of different factors. To evaluate and reduce the risk for unexpected or unwanted side effects, biocompatibility testing is used to examine new biomaterials and biomedical devices destined for implantation. The biological evaluation of the material’s safety is a complex task since it requires knowledge in the disciplines of medicine, biology, pathology, engineering and materials science.