BIOENGINEERING, FOOD, AND NATURAL PRODUCTS Advances in Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Bionanotechnology

Introduction In the rapidly changing scientific world, contributions of scientists and engineers are leading to major new solutions of significant medical problems. No longer is the treatment of diabetes, osteoporosis, asthma, cardiac problems, cancer, and other diseases based only on conventional pharmaceutical formulations. Biology and medicine are beginning to reduce the problems of disease to problems of molecular science, and are creating new opportunities for treating and curing disease. Such advances are coupled closely with advances in biomaterials and are leading to a variety of approaches for relieving suffering and prolonging life. Of particular interest is the central position that materials Ž . especially polymers, ceramics and metals have taken in the development of novel treatments over the last 30 years. Biomaterials are generally substances other than food or drugs contained in therapeutic or diagnostic systems that are in contact with tissue or biological fluids. They are used in many biomedical and pharmaceutical preparations, they play a central role in extracorporeal devices, from contact lenses to kidney dialyzers, and are essential components of implants, from vascular grafts to cardiac pacemakers. There are many current biomaterials applications, found in about 8,000 different kinds of medical devices, 2,500 separate diagnostic products, and 40,000 different pharmaceutical preparations. Although biomaterials already contribute greatly to the improvement of health, the need exists for better polymer, ceramic, and metal systems and improved methods of characterizing them Ž . Peppas and Langer, 1994 .