[Scientific aspects of raw materials in medicine]

Metallic, ceramic, and polymeric materials are applied in all disciplines of surgical and dental medicine. The biocompatibility is determined by the chemical composition, the mechanical and electronic structures of the material's surface, the properties of the interface to the specific body electrolyte as well as by reactions, which occur between the solid and the liquid phase. The development of biomaterials, considering the sensitive biological environment, requires knowledge from all fields of the natural sciences and knowledge of manufacturing methods derived from the key technologies.