Biomaterials Science: An introduction to Materials in Medicine was conceived as a learning tool to “compatibilize” through common language and fundamental principles a number of independent communities (basic sciences, engineering, medicine, dentistry, industry, regulatory, legal, etc.). Although the book has approximately 170 chapters, there is a logic of organization and curriculum that should make Biomaterials Science: An introduction to Materials in Medicine, third edition, straightforward to use in an academic course or as a reference work.
A guiding principle in assembling this multi-author, multidisciplinary textbook is that fundamental and translational progress in the field of biomaterials necessitates integration of concepts and tools from the full spectrum of the physical sciences, engineering, clinical medicine, biology, and the life sciences. Indeed, the discipline of biomaterials utilizes a convergence of multidisciplinary elements to enable the development of specific diagnostic or therapeutic devices – i.e., using biomaterials science and technology to create and implement real medical devices and other products that solve clinical problems and improve patient outcomes. Nevertheless, the editors believe (and the book has been assembled so) that a physician should be able to pick up the textbook and glean a baseline knowledge of the science, engineering, and commercialization aspects of biomaterials. A chemist could use this book to appreciate the biology behind biomaterials, the physiology associated with medical devices, and the applications in medicine. An engineer hired by a medical device company might learn the basic science underlying the technological development and details on medical applications. Similarly, for other disciplines that interface with biomaterials, this book can guide the reader through diverse but related topics that are generally not found in one volume.
The textbook has well over 100 authors. The field of biomaterials is so diverse in subject matter that a guiding principle has been that no one author can write it all – let us use the experience and wisdom of acknowledged masters of each subject to communicate the best information to the reader. But, to prevent this book from appearing to be simply a collection of review papers, considerable editorial effort has gone into ensuring logical curricular organization, continuity of ideas, and extensive cross-referencing between chapters.
Biomaterials Science: An introduction to Materials in Medicine, third edition, is divided into four parts (Materials Science and Engineering; Biology and Medicine; Practical Aspects of Biomaterials; Perspectives and Possibilities in Biomaterials Science), sections that subdivide each of the four parts (for example, under the part called “Materials Science and Engineering” there are sections on properties of materials and classes of materials used in medicine), and finally chapters, for example, chapters on each of the types of materials that are used in medicine (hydrogels, polyurethanes, titanium, etc.). Each section begins with an introduction by one of the editors that will guide the reader through the chapters, giving cohesion to the sections and highlighting key issues that are worthy of attention. Finally, there are appendices that tabulate use data and information.
Wherever possible, problems at the end of chapters are provided for classroom use and for self-testing. To permit updating problems and adding new ones, problems, and other resource materials including a full artwork catalog and downloadable images from the text, are provided on the companion website at http://www.elsevierdirect.com/companions/9780080877808.
We hope that the textbook organization, the extensive editorial effort, and the expertly authored chapters will serve their intended purpose – to guide a reader into and through this complex field of biomaterials science. The editors always appreciate feedback and commentary – contact information is provided for them.
And now, it is time to delve into the rich world of biomaterials science.