Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
synthetic pathways to produce better bone grafts. Unfortunately,
when it comes to the fabrication of biocomposites mimicing natural
bones from the nanometer to the micrometer dimensions, there are
many key issues, including control of morphology, incorporation
of foreign ions, interaction with biomolecules and assembly of the
organic and inorganic phases, which are still not well understood. A
processing gap between the lower-level building units and the higher-
order architecture could severely limit the practical application of
current calcium orthophosphate-based biocomposites and hybrid
biomaterials. Therefore, further substantial research efforts have
been outlined to address the following key challenges [36, 41]:
• Optimizing biocomposite processing conditions.
• Optimization of interfacial bonding and strength equivalent to
natural bone.
• Optimization of the surface properties and pore size to
maximize bone growth.
• Maintaining the adequate volume of the construct
in vivo
to
allow bone formation to take place.
• Withstanding the load-bearing conditions.
• Matching the bioresorbability of the grafts and their
biomechanical properties while forming new bone.
• Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which the cells
and the biocomposite matrix interact with each other
in vivo
to promote bone regeneration.
• Supporting angiogenesis and vascularization for the growth
of healthy bone cells and subsequent tissue formation and
remodeling [36, 41].
The aforementioned critical issues have to be solved before
a widespread commercial use of calcium orthophosphate-based
biocomposites and hybrid biomaterials can be made in surgery and
medicine.
6.8
Conclusions
All types of calcified tissues of humans and mammals appear to possess
a complex hierarchical biocomposite structure. Their mechanical
properties are outstanding (considering weak constituents from
which they are assembled) and far beyond those, that can be achieved
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