Professor Luigi Ambrosio is a Research Director at the Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, Italy. He is a renowned scientist with expertise in biomedical composites and has published over 300 papers in international scientific journals and books, 16 patents, 150 invited lectures and over 400 presentations at international and national conferences. Elizabeth Tanner is Professor of Mechanics of Materials and Structures at the University of Glasgow, UK. Both are noted for their research in bone biomaterials and therapies.

"This is a good reference on biomaterials. It will be of most interest to materials engineers, bioengineers and spine surgeons. It is well written and provides an extensive list of references." --Doody's Book Reviews

• Contributor contact detailsChapter 1: Introduction to biomaterials for spinal surgeryAbstract:1.1 Introduction1.2 Total disc replacement1.3 Nucleus pulposus replacement1.4 Materials for spinal applications1.5 ConclusionsPart I: Fundamentals of biomaterials for spinal surgeryChapter 2: An overview of the challenges of bringing a medical device for the spine to the marketAbstract:2.1 Introduction2.2 Selection and sourcing of materials in medical device developments2.3 Biocompatibility testing2.4 Medical device regulation2.5 Conclusions2.6 AcknowledgementChapter 3: Introduction to spinal pathologies and clinical problems of the spineAbstract:3.1 Introduction3.2 Degenerative spine disease3.3 Spinal trauma3.4 Spinal deformity3.5 Malignancy3.6 Infection3.7 ConclusionsChapter 4: Forces on the spineAbstract:4.1 Introduction4.2 In vivo measured components of spinal loads4.3 In vitro measured spinal load components4.4 Analytical models for spinal load estimation4.5 Recommendations for the simulations of loads for in vitro and numerical studies4.6 ConclusionsChapter 5: Finite element modelling of the spineAbstract:5.1 Introduction5.2 Functional spine biomechanics and strength of numerical explorations5.3 Geometrical approximations in spine finite element modelling5.4 Numerical approximations: accuracy and computational cost5.5 Constitutive models for the spine tissues5.6 Simulating the mechanical loads on the spine5.7 Model verifications and interpretations: the validation concept and quantitative validation5.8 Future trends and conclusions: the virtual physiological spineChapter 6: Osteobiologic agents in spine surgeryAbstract:6.1 Introduction6.2 Bone formation and healing6.3 Osteobiologics for spine fusion6.4 Bone growth factors6.5 Cellular biologics6.6 ConclusionsPart II: Spinal fusion and intervertebral discsChapter 7: Spine fusion: cages, plates and bone substitutesAbstract:7.1 Introduction7.2 Spine fusion: historical concerns and surgical skills7.3 Bone substitutes in spine fusion7.4 Bone growth factors7.5 Autologous bone marrow7.6 Future trendsChapter 8: Artificial intervertebral discsAbstract:8.1 Introduction8.2 Structure and function of the intervertebral disc8.3 The artificial intervertebral disc: design and materials8.4 Fibre-reinforced composite materials: basic principles8.5 Composite biomimetic artificial intervertebral discs8.6 Future trends and conclusionsChapter 9: Biological response to artificial discsAbstract:9.1 Introduction9.2 The healing response to intervertebral disc implants9.3 Infection as a cause of failure of implants9.4 Loosening and the reaction to the products of wear and corrosion9.5 Carcinogenicity and genotoxicity of metal implants9.6 ConclusionsPart III: Vertebroplasty and scoliosis surgeryChapter 10: The use of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in neurosurgeryAbstract:10.1 Introduction: a history of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)10.2 Characteristics of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)10.3 Preparation of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) for use in clinical practice10.4 Clinical use of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in neurosurgery10.5 Developments in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)10.6 ConclusionsChapter 11: Optimising the properties of injectable materials for vertebroplasty and kyphoplastyAbstract:11.1 Introduction11.2 Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) based bone cements11.3 Calcium phosphate and calcium sulfate based bone cements11.4 ConclusionsChapter 12: Injectable calcium phosphates for vertebral augmentationAbstract:12.1 Introduction12.2 Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)12.3 Calcium phosphate cements12.4 ConclusionsChapter 13: Composite injectable materials for vertebroplastyAbstract:13.1 Introduction: a background on the use of composites in vertebroplasty13.2 Properties of composites for vertebroplasty13.3 Further development in composite injectable materials13.4 ConclusionsChapter 14: Scoliosis implants: surgical requirementsAbstract:14.1 Introduction14.2 Definition of scoliosis14.3 Management of scoliosis14.4 General principles for spinal fusion14.5 Outcomes in scoliosis surgery14.6 Future development of biomechanical implants14.7 Conclusions14.8 Sources of further informationChapter 15: Shape memory, superelastic and low Young’s modulus alloysAbstract:15.1 Introduction15.2 Fundamental characteristics of shape memory and superelastic alloys15.3 Low Young’s modulus alloys15.4 Metals required for spinal surgery15.5 Conclusions15.6 AcknowledgementsPart IV: Regenerative medicine in the spineChapter 16: Cell-based tissue engineering approaches for disc regenerationAbstract:16.1 Introduction16.2 Rationale behind the use of cells16.3 Choice of cell type (not including mesenchymal stem cells)16.4 Current issues to be addressed16.5 Future trends and conclusions16.6 Sources of further informationChapter 17: Angiogenesis control in spine regenerationAbstract:17.1 Introduction17.2 The role and the mechanisms of angiogenesis17.3 Physiological and pathological vascularisation of different intervertebral disc (IVD) histological compartments17.4 Strategies to promote angiogenesis in tissue regeneration17.5 Angiogenesis inhibition in intervertebral disc (IVD) regeneration and other clinical applications17.6 Future trends17.7 Sources of further information17.8 AcknowledgementsChapter 18: Stem cells for disc regenerationAbstract:18.1 Introduction18.2 Tissue engineering solutions for intervertebral disc (IVD) disease18.3 Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and regeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD)18.4 Regeneration of the annulus18.5 Use of scaffolds with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for intervertebral disc (IVD) regeneration18.6 Future trends18.7 ConclusionsChapter 19: Nucleus regenerationAbstract:19.1 Introduction19.2 The intervertebral disc: anatomy, structure and function19.3 Mechanics–biology interrelation19.4 Annulus, nucleus and entire intervertebral disc: the tissue engineering approach19.5 ConclusionsChapter 20: In vivo models of regenerative medicine in the spineAbstract:20.1 Introduction20.2 Selecting an animal model20.3 Intervertebral spinal fusion20.4 Degenerative disc disease20.5 Future trends and conclusions20.6 AcknowledgementsIndex

Professor Luigi Ambrosio is a Research Director at the Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, Italy. He is a renowned scientist with expertise in biomedical composites and has published over 300 papers in international scientific journals and books, 16 patents, 150 invited lectures and over 400 presentations at international and national conferences. Elizabeth Tanner is Professor of Mechanics of Materials and Structures at the University of Glasgow, UK. Both are noted for their research in bone biomaterials and therapies.

"This is a good reference on biomaterials. It will be of most interest to materials engineers, bioengineers and spine surgeons. It is well written and provides an extensive list of references." --Doody's Book Reviews

• Contributor contact detailsChapter 1: Introduction to biomaterials for spinal surgeryAbstract:1.1 Introduction1.2 Total disc replacement1.3 Nucleus pulposus replacement1.4 Materials for spinal applications1.5 ConclusionsPart I: Fundamentals of biomaterials for spinal surgeryChapter 2: An overview of the challenges of bringing a medical device for the spine to the marketAbstract:2.1 Introduction2.2 Selection and sourcing of materials in medical device developments2.3 Biocompatibility testing2.4 Medical device regulation2.5 Conclusions2.6 AcknowledgementChapter 3: Introduction to spinal pathologies and clinical problems of the spineAbstract:3.1 Introduction3.2 Degenerative spine disease3.3 Spinal trauma3.4 Spinal deformity3.5 Malignancy3.6 Infection3.7 ConclusionsChapter 4: Forces on the spineAbstract:4.1 Introduction4.2 In vivo measured components of spinal loads4.3 In vitro measured spinal load components4.4 Analytical models for spinal load estimation4.5 Recommendations for the simulations of loads for in vitro and numerical studies4.6 ConclusionsChapter 5: Finite element modelling of the spineAbstract:5.1 Introduction5.2 Functional spine biomechanics and strength of numerical explorations5.3 Geometrical approximations in spine finite element modelling5.4 Numerical approximations: accuracy and computational cost5.5 Constitutive models for the spine tissues5.6 Simulating the mechanical loads on the spine5.7 Model verifications and interpretations: the validation concept and quantitative validation5.8 Future trends and conclusions: the virtual physiological spineChapter 6: Osteobiologic agents in spine surgeryAbstract:6.1 Introduction6.2 Bone formation and healing6.3 Osteobiologics for spine fusion6.4 Bone growth factors6.5 Cellular biologics6.6 ConclusionsPart II: Spinal fusion and intervertebral discsChapter 7: Spine fusion: cages, plates and bone substitutesAbstract:7.1 Introduction7.2 Spine fusion: historical concerns and surgical skills7.3 Bone substitutes in spine fusion7.4 Bone growth factors7.5 Autologous bone marrow7.6 Future trendsChapter 8: Artificial intervertebral discsAbstract:8.1 Introduction8.2 Structure and function of the intervertebral disc8.3 The artificial intervertebral disc: design and materials8.4 Fibre-reinforced composite materials: basic principles8.5 Composite biomimetic artificial intervertebral discs8.6 Future trends and conclusionsChapter 9: Biological response to artificial discsAbstract:9.1 Introduction9.2 The healing response to intervertebral disc implants9.3 Infection as a cause of failure of implants9.4 Loosening and the reaction to the products of wear and corrosion9.5 Carcinogenicity and genotoxicity of metal implants9.6 ConclusionsPart III: Vertebroplasty and scoliosis surgeryChapter 10: The use of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in neurosurgeryAbstract:10.1 Introduction: a history of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)10.2 Characteristics of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)10.3 Preparation of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) for use in clinical practice10.4 Clinical use of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in neurosurgery10.5 Developments in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)10.6 ConclusionsChapter 11: Optimising the properties of injectable materials for vertebroplasty and kyphoplastyAbstract:11.1 Introduction11.2 Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) based bone cements11.3 Calcium phosphate and calcium sulfate based bone cements11.4 ConclusionsChapter 12: Injectable calcium phosphates for vertebral augmentationAbstract:12.1 Introduction12.2 Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)12.3 Calcium phosphate cements12.4 ConclusionsChapter 13: Composite injectable materials for vertebroplastyAbstract:13.1 Introduction: a background on the use of composites in vertebroplasty13.2 Properties of composites for vertebroplasty13.3 Further development in composite injectable materials13.4 ConclusionsChapter 14: Scoliosis implants: surgical requirementsAbstract:14.1 Introduction14.2 Definition of scoliosis14.3 Management of scoliosis14.4 General principles for spinal fusion14.5 Outcomes in scoliosis surgery14.6 Future development of biomechanical implants14.7 Conclusions14.8 Sources of further informationChapter 15: Shape memory, superelastic and low Young’s modulus alloysAbstract:15.1 Introduction15.2 Fundamental characteristics of shape memory and superelastic alloys15.3 Low Young’s modulus alloys15.4 Metals required for spinal surgery15.5 Conclusions15.6 AcknowledgementsPart IV: Regenerative medicine in the spineChapter 16: Cell-based tissue engineering approaches for disc regenerationAbstract:16.1 Introduction16.2 Rationale behind the use of cells16.3 Choice of cell type (not including mesenchymal stem cells)16.4 Current issues to be addressed16.5 Future trends and conclusions16.6 Sources of further informationChapter 17: Angiogenesis control in spine regenerationAbstract:17.1 Introduction17.2 The role and the mechanisms of angiogenesis17.3 Physiological and pathological vascularisation of different intervertebral disc (IVD) histological compartments17.4 Strategies to promote angiogenesis in tissue regeneration17.5 Angiogenesis inhibition in intervertebral disc (IVD) regeneration and other clinical applications17.6 Future trends17.7 Sources of further information17.8 AcknowledgementsChapter 18: Stem cells for disc regenerationAbstract:18.1 Introduction18.2 Tissue engineering solutions for intervertebral disc (IVD) disease18.3 Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and regeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD)18.4 Regeneration of the annulus18.5 Use of scaffolds with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for intervertebral disc (IVD) regeneration18.6 Future trends18.7 ConclusionsChapter 19: Nucleus regenerationAbstract:19.1 Introduction19.2 The intervertebral disc: anatomy, structure and function19.3 Mechanics–biology interrelation19.4 Annulus, nucleus and entire intervertebral disc: the tissue engineering approach19.5 ConclusionsChapter 20: In vivo models of regenerative medicine in the spineAbstract:20.1 Introduction20.2 Selecting an animal model20.3 Intervertebral spinal fusion20.4 Degenerative disc disease20.5 Future trends and conclusions20.6 AcknowledgementsIndex