Advances in the analysis of surfaces of biomedical interest

Materials used in biomedical applications often function based upon their surface properties. Thus, understanding their surfaces is critical to the design and engineering of new biomaterials and medical devices. Modern surface analysis tools have been developed largely around the needs for the microelectronics and petrochemicals industries, where durable, inorganic surfaces are studied. This paper examines how surface analysis methods can be applied to biomaterials which are typically hydrated and fragile. In particular, vacuum compatibility, sample damage, the aqueous/solid interface; spatial information, buried interfaces, chemical complexity and correlation with bioreactivity will be addressed.