by What are Bioceramics?
Biochemical refer to ceramic materials that interact with biological systems. They are specially designed for medical implant and repair applications to replace hard tissues in the body. Biochemical serve as an alternative to metals and polymers for devices like orthopedic and dental implants by offering properties like biocompatibility and bioactivity. Some of the major types of biochemical include bioinert ceramics, bioactive ceramics and bioresorbable ceramics.
Bioinert Ceramics
Bioceramics do not bond chemically with living bone or soft tissues. They are non-toxic and do not dissolve over time within the body. However, they also do not stimulate bone growth or bond with surrounding tissues. Commonly used bioinert ceramics include alumina and zirconia. They are utilized for applications like articulating surfaces in hip and knee replacements that do not require bonding with bone. Alumina ceramics are very hard and wear resistant, making them suitable for load-bearing joints. Zirconia ceramics offer higher fracture toughness and strength compared to alumina.
Bioactive Ceramics
Bioactive ceramics chemically bond to living bone through the formation of a bone-like hydroxyapatite layer on the ceramic surface when in contact with body fluids. This results in stronger anchoring of implants and faster integration with surrounding tissues. Bioactive ceramics include glasses like bioglass and glass-ceramics. Upon implantation, they rapidly form a bond between the implant and bone via a carbonated hydroxyapatite layer that bridges the interface. This leads to improved fixation of implants used for bone repair and augmentation procedures.
Bioresorbable Ceramics
Bioceramics are designed to degrade gradually and get replaced by new bone tissue over time after fulfilling their function in the body. As the ceramic material resorbs, it creates space for natural bone to grow into the device and remodel itself. Commonly used resorbable ceramics include calcium phosphates like tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite. They are employed as bone void fillers, coatings on metal implants and scaffolds for tissue engineering because of their osteoconductive properties.
Applications in Orthopedics
A major use of biochemical is in orthopedic implants and devices. Calcium phosphate ceramics are widely utilized as bone graft substitutes and extenders in orthopedic, dental and maxillofacial procedures. Their excellent osteoconductivity makes them suitable for filling bony voids, defects and fractures to promote new bone formation. Calcium phosphate cement, a type of bioresorbable ceramic, serves as an injectable bone substitute with advantages over autograft. Ceramic coatings are often applied to metallic implants to enhance osseointegration. Bioceramic coatings of hydroxyapatite or calcium phosphate promote faster bonding of implants to bone.
Dental Applications
Dental applications also employ bioceramics materials extensively. Porous bioceramic scaffolds are used as implant fixtures and membranes for bone and tissue regeneration in dentistry. Bioactive ceramics like apatite-wollastonite glass-ceramic and bioglass promote soft and hard tissue integration with dental implants. Bioceramic cements find applications as luting agents, dentin substitutes, restorative filling materials and endodontic repair substances. They are biocompatible, bacteriostatic and enhance remineralization of tooth structure. Additionally, bioceramic coatings on titanium or zirconia provide dental implants having anti-bacterial properties, scratch resistance and an aesthetic appearance.
Tissue Engineering Scaffolds
Bioceramic scaffolds serve as templates to guide the regeneration and growth of new tissues in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering approaches. Their porous 3D architecture allows for cell attachment, infiltration, vascularization and deposition of extracellular matrix. Tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite ceramics are commonly fabricated as scaffolds or composite scaffolds to repair bone. Their structural properties can be tailored for load-bearing or non-load bearing bone regeneration applications. Bioceramic scaffolds impregnated with bone morphogenetic proteins and osteoprogenitor cells are being explored to develop grafts for segmental defect repair.
Future Outlook
Going forward, bioceramic materials will continue to transform medical therapies. Newer bioactive bioglasses and glass-ceramics are being developed to achieve stronger and faster bonding to bone. Bioceramic composites incorporating polymers, metals and biomolecules are an active area of research to enhance mechanical properties and functionalization. Additive manufacturing technologies enable fabrication of intricate 3D-printed bioceramic scaffolds tailored for specific anatomical sites.
nanotechnology offers methods for imparting novel properties like self-healing, drug delivery and antibacterial action to bioceramic materials. With advancements in processing and characterization, biochemical will play an increasingly important role in regenerative strategies for hard and soft tissues. Their capability to integrate intimately with biological systems makes them indispensable for implants and tissue regeneration applications.
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Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravina-pandya-1a3984191)
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public Source, Desk Research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it.
