Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
repair after major trauma or surgery. HA can be termed bioactive
and TCP as bioresorbable. Calcium phosphate-based ceramics has
beenutilizedfortreatingbonedefectsasitissimilartonaturalbone
andishighlybiocompatible.However,itsutilitytowardload-bearing
applications is limited because of its poor mechanical strength. Cal-
cium phosphate found in natural bone is in the form of nanometer-
sizedneedle-likecrystalsofapproximately5-20nmwidthby60nm
length, with a poorly crystallized, nonstoichiometric apatite phase
containingothertraceions,whichgivesstrengthtothebone.There-
forenanosizedcalciumphosphateisagoodchoiceasabonescaffold
material.
4.3 Bone Tissue Engineering
The design of biomaterials with surface properties similar to phys-
iological bone that demonstrates the basic criteria of osteoinduc-
tion and osteoconduction promotes the formation of new bone and
improved orthopedics. Bone tissue engineering is comparatively a
new approach in the repair of bony defects. The recent develop-
mentsoftissueengineeringinthefieldoforthopedicresearchmake
it possible to envisage the association of autologous cells and pro-
teins that promote cell adhesion with osteoconductive material to
create osteoinductive materials.
5
The nature of interaction between
osteoblast cells and their substrate can influence the ability of these
cellstoproduceanosteoidmatrixaroundanimplant,which,inturn,
will determine the fate of the implant.
6
Materials used as a bone tis-
sue engineering scaffold should be biocompatible and porous to be
osteoinductive and osteoconductive and should have the mechani-
cal property compatible with the natural bone tissue. They should
also induce cell anchorage and remodel the extracellular matrix in
order to integrate with the surrounding tissue.
7
,
8
The World Health
Organization, along with 37 countries and the United Nations, has
proclaimedtheyear2000-2010asthe“BoneandJointDecade.”This
globalinitiativeisintendedtoimprovethelivesofpeoplewithmus-
culoskeletaldisorders,suchasarthritis,andtoadvanceunderstand-
ingandtreatmentofmusculoskeletaldisordersthroughprevention,
education, and research.
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