Bioceramics - Current status and future trends

A wide range of ceramic materials are currently used in biomedical applicat ions, from chemically pure oxides, such as alumina, to the chemically and m icrostructurally complex ceramic-matrix composites. Among the most signific ant applications are the hydroxyapatite coatings on hip prostheses and the use of hydroxyapatite and/or related calcium salts for bone defect and frac ture repair.;Increasing applications of ceramic and glass materials can be expected in both orthopaedics and dentistry. The use of these materials in cancer treatment also appears promising. The development of biomimetic proc essing techniques and protein delivery systems represent the cutting edge i n bioceramics, involving the merger of materials science with the biologica l sciences.