Toxicologic aspects of implants

Man‐made polymeric materials are being utilized in a number of devices which will be implanted into animals and humans for various periods of time. The diversity of materials and the introduction of new materials into the medical and paramedical professions appear to be increasing at an accelerated rate each year. Even though great advancements have been made by the biomedical engineer and the surgeon in designing and implanting a prosthetic device in the body, less emphasis apparently has been given to the possible or potential hazardous aspects of the material. An implantable material may initiate a body response in two general ways: (1) release of an ingredient from the material to the biological environment and (2) alteration of the material by the biological environment, leading to degradation of the material with its various consequences. If serious future hazards are to be kept to a minimum, greater emphasis must be placed on well‐designed toxicity studies of materials which, in turn, could lead to standardized materials for implants.