Editorial: Customised biomedical textiles are replacing traditional medical implants

Editorial: Customised biomedical textiles are replacing traditional medical implants

Medical implants made from rigid materials such as metals are being replaced increasingly by biomedical textiles with customised structures as surgeons embrace minimally invasive procedures and therefore require materials which are smaller, stronger and more flexible. The development of biomedical textiles is the subject of intensive research and development and, as a result, textile-based implants are being used in new applications which would have been inconceivable a few years ago. These applications include: artificial ligaments, heart valves, life-saving grafts and spinal stabilisation. In this report, Robin Anson explores the latest innovations in biomedical textiles, including implants made from embroidered nickel titanium shape memory alloy, textile-based tumour endoprosthetic implants, wound dressings made from collagens and viscose fibres, and implants made from three-dimensional (3D) nanospun collagen.