Materials for Bioengineering

Mike Ashby
Department of Engineering,
University of Cambridge

Created with Ansys Granta EduPack 2023R1 ©2023 ANSYS, Inc.

Learning objectives for this lecture unit

Intended Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and
Broad knowledge of the different areas of Bioengineering
Understanding

Skills and Abilities Ability to select materials for Bioengineering applications

Values and Attitudes Awareness of how biomaterials compare with engineering ones

Resources
 White Paper: “Bioengineering Database > Part 1: Introduction to Biological and Bio-medical materials”
 White Paper: “Bioengineering Database > Part 2: Bio-derived materials and example applications”
 White Paper: “Medical Devices- biomedical applications of materials”
 Poster: Wall chart of property maps for the materials of nature (download all three from www.ansys.com/education-resources)
 Text: “Materials Selection in Mechanical Design”, 5th edition, by M.F. Ashby, Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford, 2016.

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Outline
 What is bioengineering?

 Ansys Granta EduPack databases

• Level 2 Bioengineering

• Level 3 Bioengineering

 Materials selection for biomedical

applications
• Porous Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

• Suture Anchor Implant

• Biomaterials Selection for a Joint Replacement

• Biomedical Waste: Health vs Environment

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What is bioengineering?

“A discipline that advances knowledge in engineering, biology and medicine, and improves human health
through cross-disciplinary activities that integrate the engineering sciences with the biomedical sciences and
clinical practice.” - Whitaker Foundation

Engineering Life Sciences

Bioengineering

Application of “biological systems knowledge” Application of “engineering principles” to

to engineering issues e.g., bio-inspired wind challenges in biology and medicine e.g.,
turbine blades pacemakers

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Specialist areas

Bioengineering

Electrical Computer Math & Chemical Physics Chemistry & Biology & Materials Mechanical
Engineering Science & Statistics Engineering Biochemistry Neurobiology Science & Engineering
Engineering Engineering

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Materials in Bioengineering

What is a biomaterial?
Any matter, surface, or construct that interacts with biological systems. Biomaterials can be derived from nature
or synthesized in the laboratory using metallic components, polymers, ceramics, or composite materials.
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

1 3
METALS CERAMICS
Hard, ductile and conduct heat and Hard, brittle, resistant to corrosion,
electricity e.g. stainless steel 316L electrically non-conductive e.g. alumina

2 4
POLYMERS COMPOSITES
Widely variable, relatively soft and flexible Materials with distinct phases larger than
e.g. polypropylene the atomic scale e.g. CFRP

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Where are biomaterials currently used in medical practice?

Medical implants e.g. heart valves, stents, and grafts; artificial joints, ligaments, and
tendons; hearing loss devices; dental implants; and devices that stimulate nerves.

Promote human tissue healing e.g. wound closure using sutures, clips, and staples;
dissolvable dressings.

Human tissue regeneration scaffolds, cells, and bioactive molecules can all be used to
support host tissue growth.

Molecular probes and nanoparticles that break through biological barriers and support
cancer imaging and therapy at the molecular level.

Biosensors use biological material, such as DNA, enzymes and antibodies, to detect
specific biological, chemical, or physical and then transmits or reports this data.

Drug-delivery systems that carry and/or apply drugs to a disease target e.g., drug-coated
vascular stents, implantable chemotherapy wafers for cancer patients.

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Granta EduPack

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 Granta EduPack: Level 2 Bioengineering
Produced by a biological system
321 i.e., plant and animal
materials
Blanket term for biological,
natural, bio-derived, bio-inspired
and biomedical materials
116
processes
Uses natural/ biological source as
raw material
62 medical
devices
New in
2023R1 Specific subset useful for
117 FDA biomedical materials
examples
Biocompatible materials used in
Elements medical applications

Polymers which use

Tools natural/biological source as raw
material

Eco Audit

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 Granta EduPack: Level 3 Bioengineering
4261
materials Tools

247
processes
Engineering Solver
62 medical
devices
New in
2023R1
117 FDA
examples Enhanced Eco Audit

Shape

Structural Hybrid Synthesizer

Sections

20 subsets e.g., Natural

Materials, Biomedical Materials,
Composites, Polymers-Elastomers

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Record of a Tendon, Level 2 Bioengineering

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Record of silicone, Level 2 Bioengineering

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Material property chart, Level 2 Bioengineering

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Material property chart, Level 2 Bioengineering

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Material property chart, Level 2 Bioengineering

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Record of silicone, Level 3 Bioengineering More data at Level 3

External
Link

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Material property chart, Level 3 Bioengineering

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 Database contents and structure

Granta EduPack is therefore an But the structure of its datatables also allows students too explore
excellent source of material specific links between medical devices and the materials that have been
and medical device used to make them.
information.
Datatable Links
Medical
Devices

Material Process
Universe Universe

FDA
Approved
Examples

The next two slides show an example from the medical devices and FDA approved examples,
as well as the links which connect them.

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Medical Device record

Easy links from this generic metal stent to real-life FDA Approved Examples;
typical materials used for application and references.

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FDA Approved Example

General introduction to the 16

medical specialties, referred to by
the FDA as panels.

3 letter combinations which

associate a device’s type with the
product’s classification e.g. NIP
(Stent, Superficial Femoral Artery)

Specific details about the device

including physical characteristics,
date it was approved by the FDA
and it’s 510(k) or PMA number.

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Ashby’s materials selection methodology
All Materials

1. Porous Scaffolds for Bone 3. Biomaterials Selection for a

Tissue Engineering Breakdown design requirements into: Joint Replacement
Function – What does the component do?
Constraints – What essential conditions must be met?
Objectives – What is to be maximized or minimized?

Screen on constraints – ‘Go/ no-go’ criteria (usually many)

Rank on objectives – Ordering of materials that ‘go’

Top Candidate Materials 4. Biomedical Waste: Health vs

2. Suture Anchor Implant Environment

Supporting information – Specialist databases, contact suppliers

Local conditions – Preferred suppliers, process capability, location

Final Selection

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1. Porous scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Objective: investigate the influence of porosity on the biomechanical properties of a hybrid scaffold materials
(foam) using the Synthesizer tool in Granta EduPack.

Synthesizer

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2. Suture anchor implant

Objective: to minimize the cost per volume, since the geometry is fixed.

Constraints:
• Unfilled thermoplastics, no additive
• Young’s modulus Min 3 GPa and Max 10 GPa
• Adequate yield strength Min 50 MPa
• Fracture toughness Min 4 MPam^0.5
• Max Service temperature: Min 40 °C
• Excellent/Acceptable resistance to water

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3. Biomaterials selection for a joint replacement

Objective: 1) Femoral stem, maximize specific strength and minimize cost; 2) Femoral head, maximize
compressive strength and minimize wear (blunt abrasion)

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4. Biomedical waste: health vs environment

Objective: investigate suitable materials for a biomedical sample vial and primarily assess options to minimize
carbon footprint and then cost.

Changing this section allows comparison between the

two material combinations:
1) Polystyrene vial with a polypropylene cap
2) Polypropylene vial with a polyethylene cap

Energy (MJ) CO2 Footprint (kg)

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Overview of bioengineering resources

Bioengineering Level 2 and 3 Advanced Teaching Research Online Database:

Medical Devices Research Human Biological Materials
Enhanced Eco Audit Materials Selection ASM Medical Materials Database

Undergraduate Research / Industry

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Summary

• The Bioengineering databases in Granta EduPack presents natural and biomaterials in a well-organized and

comprehensive format

• Ashby charts help to visual the remarkable properties of natural materials

• Enables comparison with man-made materials and systematic selection

• Stimulates thinking about replacement and mimicry

• New to 2023R1, Medical Devices and FDA Examples are included in both Level 2 and Level 3 databases,

with links between materials, devices, and FDA examples

• Links to the Advanced Case Studies can be found here: www.ansys.com/education-resources

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Lecture unit series
These PowerPoint lecture units, as well as many other types of resources,
can be found in the Ansys Education Resources webpage.
Finding and Displaying Information Sustainability
Unit 1 The materials of engineering What is a sustainable development? A materials perspective
Unit 2 Material property charts: mapping materials Materials for low carbon power
Unit 3 The Elements database: properties, relationships and resources Special Topics
Material Properties The Built Environment
Unit 4 Manipulating properties: composition, microstructure, Structural sections: shape in action
architecture
Materials in industrial design: Why do consumers buy products?
Unit 5 Designing new materials: filling the materials-property space
The Design database for Products
Unit 6 Materials Science and Engineering
The Battery Designer tool
Selection
Bioengineering and Medical Devices
Unit 7 Material selection: translation, screening, ranking, documentation
Advanced Teaching and Research
Unit 8 Objectives in conflict: trade off methods and penalty functions
Advanced databases
Unit 9 Material and shape: materials for efficient structures
The Aerospace database
Unit 10 Manufacturing processes and cost modeling
The Polymer database
Unit 11 Eco-informed material selection
The Synthesizer tool: hybrids and other models
Unit 12 Eco design and the Eco Audit tool

www.ansys.com/education-resources
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© 2023 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.
© 2018 Mike Ashby

Use and Reproduction

The content used in this resource may only be used or reproduced for teaching purposes; and any commercial use is strictly prohibited.

Document Information
This lecture unit is part of a set of teaching resources to help introduce students to materials, processes and rational selections.

Ansys Education Resources

To access more undergraduate education resources, including lecture presentations with notes, exercises with worked solutions, microprojects, real
life examples and more, visit www.ansys.com/education-resources.

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