BIOCOMPATIBILITY OF BIOMATERIALS - HEMOCOMPATIBILITY, IMMUNOCOMPATIBILITY AND BIOCOMPATIBILITY OF SOLID POLYMERIC MATERIALS AND SOLUBLE TARGETABLE POLYMERIC CARRIERS

The biocompatibility and immunocompatibility of polymeric materials is of fundamental importance for their possible therapeutic uses. Aspect s of biocompatibility of solid polymeric materials and soluble polymer ic materials differ. Solid materials are used in polymer implants, as membranes in kidney dialysis and cardiopulmonary bypass, for polymer c oating of other materials to increase their biocompatibility, for enca psulation of cells producing hormones and other soluble factors, or as microspheres used for antigen or drug release. Soluble polymeric mate rials are mostly used as carriers of drugs, hormones, growth factors, enzymes and other active substances. Bio- and immunocompatibility comp rises a complex response which depends both on the physico-chemical ch aracteristics of the medical material and on the hereditary and acquir ed ability of the recipient to react.