Bioceramics - Yesterday, today, tomorrow

Developments and applications of bioceramics are reviewed. Used initially a s alternatives to metallic materials in order to increase the biocompatibil ity of implants, bioceramics have become a diverse class of biomaterials pr esently including three basic types: bioinert high-strength ceramics; bioac tive ceramics which form direct chemical bonds with bone or evert with the soft tissue of a living organism; various bioresorbable ceramics which ala actively included in the metabolic processes of an organism with predictabl e results. Certain members of the different types of bioceramics are the mo st bioinert and biocompatible of all known biomaterials. A review of the co mposition, physicochemical properties, and biological behavior of the princ ipal types of bioceramic materials is given, based on the literature and so me of our own data. The materials include, in addition to classical sintere d ceramics, bioglass-ceramics and bioglasses which are similar in compositi on, properties, and applications. Special attention is given to structure a s the main physical parameter determining not only the properties of the ce ramic materials, but also their reaction with the biomedium. The present st atus of research and development irt bioceramics is characterized as a firs t step irt the solution of complex problems at the confluence of materials science, biology, and medicine by the synthesis of "smart materials."