Some bioactive glasses and glass-ceramics have occupied important positions
in bone-repairing materials. Fundamental studies on their bone-bonding mec
hanism indicate that Si-OH and Ti-OH group on their surfaces induce the nuc
leation of bonelike apatite which is resposible for bonding to living bone.
These findings provide us techniques for forming the biologically active b
onelike apatite even on metals and organic polymers. A bioactive composite
cement also can be derived from bioactive glass-ceramics. Ferrimagnetic cry
stals-containing glass-ceramics are useful as thermoseeds for hyperthermia
treatment of cancers. Chemically durable glasses containing Y or P at high
level can play an important role in radiotherapy of cancers.