Bioactive Composites Based on Calcium Phosphates for Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Bone problems affect millions of people across the world. In fact, musculoskeletal conditions such as joint pathologies, fractures related to osteoporosis, back pain, serious injuries and different sorts of bone diseases and disabilities are among the most common causes for hundreds of millions of people worldwide suffering acute and severe long-term pain and becoming physically handicapped. It has been reported that over 100 million Europeans are affected by different bone related problems and suffer chronic musculoskeletal pain, while in the US musculoskeletal problems affect over 40 million people aged 45 years and older. It is expected that the percentage of population affected by musculoskeletal conditions will double by the year 2020. Although morbidity is low, they have a major effect on disability, medical costs and patient quality of life [1,2]. Thus, bone defect treatments represent a significant medical and socioeconomic challenge.

Calcium Orthophosphate-Containing Biocomposites and Hybrid Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications

“…The combination of CaPO 4 and polymers into biocomposites has a twofold purpose. The desirable mechanical properties of polymers compensate for a poor mechanical behavior of CaPO 4 bioceramics, while in turn the desirable bioactive properties of CaPO 4 improve those of polymers, expanding the possible uses of each material within the body [ 223 , 224 , 225 , 226 ]. Namely, polymers have been added to CaPO 4 in order to improve their mechanical strength [ 223 ], while CaPO 4 fillers have been blended with polymers to improve their compressive strength and modulus, in addition to increasing their osteoconductive properties [ 119 , 227 , 228 , 229 , 230 ].…”

Biocomposites and hybrid biomaterials based on calcium orthophosphates

“…The desirable mechanical properties of polymers compensate for a poor mechanical behavior of calcium orthophosphate bioceramics, while, in turn, the desirable bioactive properties of calcium orthophosphates improve those of polymers, expanding the possible uses of each material within the body. [158][159][160][286][287][288][289][290] Namely, polymers have been added to calcium orthophosphates in order to improve their mechanical strength, 158,286 and calcium orthophosphate fillers have been blended with polymers to improve their ©2 0 1 1 L a n d e s B i o s c i e n c e .…”

Three‐dimensional printed PCL‐hydroxyapatite scaffolds filled with CNTs for bone cell growth stimulation

“…Population aging leads to a significant increase of degenerative musculoskeletal diseases and despite the fast progress in the field of bone regenerative medicine along the years, there are still many limitations in current bone grafting therapies. 1 Bone is well-known for its self-regeneration ability but extensive bone defects cannot be completely healed by the body and, in most of these cases, external interventions to restore and help bone healing are needed. [2][3][4] To overcome these limitations, tissue engineering science has focused efforts on developing bone scaffolds, which must fulfil certain specific requirements such as biocompatibility, osteoconduction, pore size between 1 and 300 lm, osteointegration ability, biodegradability, and capacity of bioresorption.…”

“…Population aging leads to a significant increase of degenerative musculoskeletal diseases and despite the fast progress in the field of bone regenerative medicine along the years, there are still many limitations in current bone grafting therapies …”