A
biomaterial is any matter, surface, or construct that interacts with living systems. As a science,
biomaterials is about fifty years old. The study of biomaterials is called
biomaterials science or biomaterials engineering. It has experienced steady and strong growth over its history, with many companies investing large amounts of money into the development of new products. Biomaterials science encompasses elements of
medicine,
biology,
chemistry,
tissue engineering and
materials science.