Assessment of encrustation behaviour on urinary tract biomaterials.

The effective clinical use of biomaterials within the urinary tract is often hindered by the associated problems of bacterial biofilm formation and encrustation which may cause obstruction or blockage of urethral catheters and ureteral stents. Methods for assessing encrustation formation on these devices are reviewed and novel urinary tract biomaterials which may be more effective at resisting encrustation are discussed.