| Scope |
Bioactive ceramics and glasses have been used in millions of patients as synthetic bone grafts but there is still unmet clinical need in bone regeneration, particularly for non-union defects; the need for antimicrobial properties and treatment of blast injuries and diseases such as osteoporosis and cancer. Bioactive ceramics and glasses are not only useful for bone repair, but are now finding new applications in soft tissue regeneration, e.g. wound healing, and at the hard/soft tissue interface, such as osteochondral regeneration and ligament repair. Therapeutic nanoparticles are also being developed that can target diseased tissue while reducing side effects of conventional oral therapies. Bioceramics can be brittle, so composites and hybrids are needed to withstand cyclic loads. Composites and hybrids can have unique properties, but their production may need to be complex to reach ideal synergy of the properties of their component parts. |