There has emerged a new generation of biomaterials to address the needs of a changing healthcare environment for cost effective, safe and efficacious medical devices. These emergent applications include implantable and tissue engineered medical devices that control biologic interactions by use of bioactive, biodegradable, therapeutic, smart and nano-enabled materials. The explosion of less-invasive procedures to mitigate the complications of tradition surgery continues and requires unique materials with exceptional biocompatibility combined with the mechanical properties that meet the design requirements. The field of biomaterials will continue to call upon the development of new materials and processes to meet the stringent demands of physical and biological properties.