www.swissbiomat.ch
A Personal Website on Biomaterials and Related Sciences

A
Angiogenic - which promotes or develops blood vessels; which promotes an increase in vascularization (http://www.ptei.org/ Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative)


B
Biodegradable Polymer - a polymer that breaks down when placed in a biologic environment (adapted from http://www.ptei.org/ Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative)

Bone Substitute - 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 (http://medical.webends.com/kw/Bone+Substitutes)


C
CAD / CAM - The utilization of computer technology in the design, management, control, and operations of the manufacturing facility through either direct or indirect computer interface with the physical and human resources of the company or organization. True CAD/CAM systems strive to integrate both the design and manufacture processes into a workable whole through shared databases in computer memory (http://www.ptei.org/ Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative)

Chemotactic - Chemotactic factor: A compound that produces positive directed migration of one or more kinds of leukocytes. The cells follow a chemical gradient. Chemotactic factors are of three general sources: bacterial (N-formylated peptides, which are unique to the initiation of bacterial protein), plasma proteins (e.g., C5a , one of the activated products of either the classical or alternative pathways of complement activation ), and cells (e.g., the cytokine , TGF-beta). (http://www.kumc.edu/instruction/medicine/pathology/ed/keywords/kw_chemotac.html)

Comb Polymer - A polymer composed of comb macromolecules. Comb macromolecules: A macromolecule comprising a main chain with multiple trifunctional branch points from each of which a linear side-chain emanates. Notes: 1. If the subchains between the branch points of the main chain and the terminal subchains of the main chain are identical with respect to constitution and degree of polymerization, and the side chains are identical with respect to constitution and degree of polymerization, the macromolecule is termed a regular comb macromolecule .2. If at least some of the branch points are of functionality greater than three, the macromolecule may be termed a brush macromolecule . (http://www.iupac.org/reports/1996/6812jenkins/substances.html)


D
Dental amalgam - Amalgam is the most common material used for fillings. Also known as silver filling it is a mixture of mercury and an alloy of silver, tin and copper. Mercury makes up about 45-50 percent of the compound and is used to bind the metals together and to provide a strong, hard, durable filling. After years of research, mercury has been found to be the only element that will bind these metals together in such a way that can be easily manipulated into a tooth cavity (http://www.dentalfind.com/glossary).

Dental implant - A dental implant is an artificial tooth root surgically placed directly into the jawbone where a tooth is missing. Once the implant has healed, a bridge, or replacement tooth, will be attached to the artificial root. Implants provide a good alternative to crowns and bridges due to the fact they are in no way attached to neighboring teeth and thus look and feel like natural teeth.
Dental implants are generally made of titanium, a surgical metal that bonds well to bone. The cylindrical implant is designed to integrate into the structure of your jawbone, forming an anchor for your replacement tooth. Implanting the artificial root requires surgery, usually under a local anesthetic. During surgery, an incision is made in the gum to expose the jawbone, the bone is prepared, and the implant is inserted into the prepared site. Usually this area is left undisturbed for 4-6 months to ensure proper healing. Once the site has healed, a second procedure is required to clear the gum away from the implant and fasten a post, which will attach to the replacement tooth. (http://www.dentalfind.com/glossary/dental_implant.html)


E
Extra cellular matrix - An intricate network of macromolecules occupying the spaces between the cells of multicellular animals. It is particularly important in the reinforcement of support tissues. Under the light microscope, it appears as a structureless mass of ground substance with embedded connective tissue fibers. The ground substance consists primarily of proteoglycans and glycoproteins, whereas the fibers consist mainly of fibrous proteins such as collagen. Depending on the relative quantities and type of its constituent macromolecules, the e.m. can display a number of forms, ranging from the calcified hard structures of bone and teeth to the transparent matrix of the cornea (http://www.ptei.org/ Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative)


F
Fixed prosthodontics - The three main types of prosthesis are removable dentures , tooth supported fixed bridge , and dental implant supported bridge . Removable dentures are the least expensive of the three options and initially are esthetically pleasing. Due to physical health and/or economic conditions, removable dentures are the only options available for patients. However, in most cases they are simply a good interim solution for patients undergoing osseointegration (dental implant treatment.) Of the other main types of prosthesis, tooth supported fixed bridges are a better option than removable dentures. The main benefit is that they are removable only by a dental specialist and not by the patient. They are also generally more esthetically pleasing than removable dentures and also offer better chewing ability. The best option for prosthesis is the dental implant support bridge. Dental implants provide a solid anchor for teeth and actually stimulate bone growth. Additionally, adjacent teeth are not impacted. They are also the most esthetically pleasing. However, dental implants are the most initially expensive of the three main options of prosthesis. They also require the presence of adequate bone in order for it to be placed. If adequate bone is absent, a bone graft procedure may be required (http://www.dentalfind.com/glossary).


G
Growth factors - organic compounds other than those required as carbon and energy sources which are needed by many organisms for proper growth and development, and which may include vitamins, amino acids, purines, etc.; a general term for specific peptides or proteins that are released by certain cells and bind to specific cell membrane receptor sites to influence cells to divide or remain quiescent (http://www.ptei.org/ Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative)

Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) - Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) refers to procedures that attempt to regenerate bone prior to the placement of bridges or, more commonly, implants . This is accomplished using bone grafts and biocompatible membranes that keep out tissue and allow the bone to grow. (http://www.advancedperiodontics.com/bone_regeneration.htm)

Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) - Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) is a procedure that enables bone and tissue to re-grow around an endangered tooth or if the tooth is lost, to increase the amount of bone for implant placement (http://www.dentalfind.com/glossary)


H
Hedgehog - Hedgehogs (Hhs) are intercellular signaling molecules that regulate tissue patterning in mammalian development. Mammalian Hhs include Sonic hedgehog (Shh), Indian hedgehog (Ihh), and Desert hedgehog (Dhh). (...) ( Hedgehog Signaling Regulation of Insulin Production By Pancreatic [Beta]-Cells, Habener, Joel F., Diabetes; 12/1/2000) (http://www.medbioworld.com/ then using Hi-Beam Research with "hedgehog")

Homeobox - The homeodomain is a DNA-binding domain, and many homeobox genes have now been shown to bind to DNA and regulate the transcription of other genes. Thus homeodomain proteins are basically transcription factors, most of which play a role in development.
An overview of homeobox genes can be found in:Guidebook to the Homeobox Genes . 1994. Denis Duboule (ed.) Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 0-19-859939-0 (hardcover), 0-19-859940-4 (paperback). (http://www.biosci.ki.se/groups/tbu/homeo.html "The Homeobox Page")
Denis Duboule is professor at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Homeobox gene - A gene containing a 180-base-pair segment (the “homeobox”) that encodes a protein domain involved in binding to (and thus regulating the expression of) DNA . This homeobox is remarkably similar in many genes with different functions. (http://www.iscid.org/encyclopedia/Homeobox_Gene)
Homeobox - A homeobox is a stretch of DNA sequence found in genes involved in the regulation of the development ( morphogenesis ) of animals , fungi and plants. Genes that have a homeobox are called homeobox genes and form the homeobox gene family . (...) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeobox)


I
Ink Jet Technology -Inkjet printing, like laser printing, is a non-impact method. Ink is emitted from nozzles as they pass over a variety of possible media, and the operation of an inkjet printer is easy to visualise: liquid ink in various colours being squirted at the paper to build up an image . A print head scans the page in horizontal strips, using a motor assembly to move it from left to right and back, as another motor assembly rolls the paper in vertical steps. A strip of the image is printed, then the paper moves on, ready for the next strip. To speed things up, the print head doesn't print just a single row of pixels in each pass, but a vertical row of pixels at a time. There are several types of inkjet technology but the most common is "drop on demand " (DOD). This works by squirting small droplets of ink onto paper, through tiny nozzles: like turning a hosepipe on and off 5,000 times a second. The amount of ink propelled onto the page is determined by the driver software that dictates which nozzles shoot droplets, and when . (...) (http://www.pctechguide.com/13inkjets.htm)


J