title: The challenge to improve the response of biomaterials to the physiological environment.
abstract: New applications of biomaterials often require advanced structures containing synthetic and natural components that are tuned to provide properties unique to a specific application. We discuss how structural characteristics of biomaterials, especially hydrophilic ones, can be used in conjunction with non-ideal thermodynamics to develop advanced medical systems. We show a number of examples of biocompatible, intelligent biomaterials that can be used for organ replacement, biosensors, precise drug delivery over days or weeks, and regenerative medicine.
authors.affiliation: McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering,; Department of Biomedical Engineering,; Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery and Regenerative Medicine; Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School and; Division of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin.
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Peppas
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering,; Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery and Regenerative Medicine.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Clegg
keywords: drug delivery; materials structure; nanobiomaterials; regenerative mechanism