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World Congress of Biomaterials Opens Window to the Future of Orthopedics BY ROBIN R. YOUNG CFA, MAY 24, 2004

Over 2,000 scientists and entrepreneurs from 43 countries converged on Sydney, Australia last week to advance the extraordinary science and practice of biomaterials. Over 2,000 papers and posters were submitted representing some of the finest biomaterials science in the world. For example, there were over 40 papers on techniques to regenerate cartilage, 51 papers on non-PMMA bone cements, 91 papers on the use of calcium phosphates, 187 papers on straight up tissue engineering and even 36 papers on various aspects of hip implant materials. Listed below are some of the sessions we surveyed as well as a few of the standout papers presented:

1. Session: Strategies for Tissue Engineering Connective Tissues
1. Oral Presentations: 8
2. Example Paper: Multi-Functional Scaffolding for Skeletal Tissue Repair
1. Authors: Yang, Magney, Cooley, et al.
2. Quote: 'Embedded chemical stimuli (BAY K8644) in Poly Lactic acid improves cell seeding on the matrix and therefore eventual healing.'
2. Session: Use of Stem Cells in Biomaterials
1. Oral Presentations: 23
2. Example Paper: A Simple Method for Cell-Based Bone Tissue Engineering
1. Authors: Kruyt, de Bruijn,Huan, Djert
2. Quote: 'Pre-operative preparation of osteogenic constructs using an osteoinductive scaffold (biphasic calcium phosphate hydroxyapatite tricalciumphosphate) plus freshly thawed autulogous cultured bone marrow cells yields at least as much bone as other methods.'
3. Session: Biomaterial Surface Modifications
1. Oral Presentations: 21
4. Session: Wear of Artificial Joints
1. Oral Presentations: 14
2. Example Paper: Wear Debris, Functional Biocompatibility and Osteolytic Potential of Articifical Hip Joints
1. Authors: Fisher, Ingham
2. Quote: 'Highly cross linked Polyethylene wear rate is 9 cubic millimeters per million cycles, 5x better than non cross linked materials. Wear debris, however, is cell reactive. Alumina ceramic on ceramic wear rates are 0.1 cubic millimeters per million cycles, 100x better than highly cross linked materials. Ceramic on ceramic is less cell reactive.'
5. Session: Developing New Biomaterials
1. Oral Presentations: 25
2. Example Paper: Tailor Making Bone Composites as Analogues for Skeletal Implants
1. Authors: Bonfield
2. Quote: 'Hydroxyapatite and polymer blend (Hapex®) delivers strength of cortical bone and the bioactive characteristics of HA. Experience in 22 devices and over 100,000 patients builds track record of safety and efficacy.'
6. Session: Hydrogels and Hydrocolloids
1. Oral Presentations: 26
2. Example Paper: In Situ Crosslinkable Hyaluronan Hydrogels for Tissue Repair and Prevention of Adhesions
1. Authors: Prestwich, Shiu, Lu, Kirkir, Li, Shelby, et. al.
2. Quote: 'Novel material can be cross linked in situ in the presence of cells and provide a cell seeded hydrogel for tissue repair or controlled release drug delivery.'
7. Session: Repair of Connective Tissue with Tissue Engineering
1. Oral Presentations: 7
8. Session: Engineered Biomaterials and Their Effect on Cells at the Tissue/Device Interface
1. Oral Presentations: 7
9. Session: Tissue Adhesives
1. Oral Presentations: 5
2. Example Paper: Development of a Novel Tissue Adhesive Consisting of Citric Acid Derivative and Collagen
1. Authors: Taguchi, Saito, Kobayashi, Kataoka, Tanaka
2. Quote: 'In contrast to glues that cause chronic inflammation due to degradation of their glutaraldhehyde or formaldehyde components, a citric acid/collagen blend is 10x less toxic but with bonding and tear strength equivalent to the host tissue.'
10. Session: UHMWPE
1. Oral Presentations: 12
11. Session: Materials for Spinal Repair
1. Oral Presentations: 6
2. Example Paper: Static and Fatique Analysis of Cervical Disc Prosthesis
1. Authors: Rouleau, Conta
2. Quote: Medtronic's Bryant Cervical Disc Prothesis was subjected to a wear test equivalent to a patient bending over, tying their shoes every two minutes, 8 hours every day for 20 years. That's 10 million cycles. The Bryant Disc's 3 components passed.
12. Session: Apatites
1. Oral Presentations: 14
13. Session: Tissue Inducing Biomaterials
1. Oral Presentations: 26
14. Session: Anti Bacterial Biomaterials
1. Oral Presentations: 6
15. Session: Nano Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Drug Delivery
1. Oral Presentations: 15
2. Example Paper: Tiny Devices and Living Cells
1. Authors: Toner
2. Quote: 'Microfabrication enables the creation of complex tissue engineered products that can be used to replace or augment failed tissues.'
16. Session: Controlled Release Systems for Drugs or Proteins
1. Oral Presentations: 39
2. Example Paper: PEG Based Co-Polymers for Local Delivery of Nitrous Oxide
1. Authors: Taite, Lipke, West
2. Quote: 'We have been able to successfully synthesize co-polymers of PEG that release nitrous oxide (a biologically active material) and that release profile can be pre-determined.'
17. Session: Accelular Scaffolds for In Vivo Tissue Regeneration
1. Oral Presentations: 15
18. Session: Ceramic Hip Arthroplasty
1. Oral Presentations: 7
2. Example Paper: Long Term Data Concerning the Use of Alumina on Alumina Ceramic Bearings in Total Hip Replacements
1. Authors: Hannouche, Hammadouche, Bizot, Nizard
2. Quote: 'At 20 years, 51 hip arthroplasties were still implanted satisfactorily, 25 hips had been revised and 42 patients either died from unrelated causes or were lost to follow up. Survival of the ceramic hip at 20 years was 85.6%.'
19. Session: Bone Graft Substitutes
1. Oral Presentations: 14
20. Session: Regenerative Medicine
1. Oral Presentations: 10
2. Example Paper: Preliminary Evaluation of a Polymeric Adhesive for Meniscal Defect Repair
1. Authors: Field, Gunathilak, Adihikan, Werkmeister, et. al.
2. Quote: 'Defects repaired with the polymer adhesive showed early signs of collagen deposition. No adverse events were observed.'
21. Session: Bone Cements for Orthopedics Applications
1. Oral Presentations: 27
2. Example Paper: First Clinical and Radiological Results of New Calcium Phosphate Cement Used to Repair 25 Cases of Compacted Fractures
1. Authors: Schwartz, Mainard, Frayssinet, Amedee, et. al.
2. Quote: 'This unique cement allows intraoperative shaping and sets up in vivo, requiring approximately 10 minutes at 23 c. Mechanical properties similar to cancellous bone, compressive strength at 35MPa. Porosity 40% of material.'
22. Session: Orthopedic Materials
1. Oral Presentations: 8
2. Example Paper: Soybean Based Biomaterials Promote Bone Regeneration In Vivo
1. Authors: Santin, Standen, Ambrosio, Nicolais, Merolli
2. Quote: 'This unique soy bean based biomaterial combines all the characteristics required for the regeneration of bone defects.'
23. Session: Total Joint Replacements
1. Oral Presentations: 6
24. Session: Scaffold Fabrication
1. Oral Presentations: 7
25. Session: Tissue Engineered Cartilage
1. Oral Presentations: 7
2. Example Paper: Advances in Cartilage Engineering Research
1. Authors: Cao, Liu, Cui
2. Quote: 'In vivo study of repairing osteochondral defect using BMSCs seeded on a PGA/PLA construct demonstrated that these cells could differentiate into chondrocytes and osteoblasts at the location of the defect.'