Biocompatibility can be defined as “The ability of a material to perform with appropriate host response in a specific application”. The 2 key aspects of biocompatibility include:
- Absence of a cytotoxic effect (survival of cells and maintenance of specific cellular functions under the influence of a material and/or its degradation products)
- Functionally (integration of biomaterial into a biological system whereby its mechanical, chemical, and physical properties affect the cell-specific function)
It’s important to note that the final finished devices undergo a range of postprocessing procedures, which can lead to a significant change in surface/bulk properties.
References
For more information about this topic, you can use these articles:
1. D.F. Williams, Definitions in biomaterials: Progress in biomedical engineering, biomaterials, Vol 10, 1987, p 216-238.