María Vallet-Regí - Böcker

Developments in mesoporous ceramics in drug delivery, nanomedicine, and bone tissue regeneration have opened promising developments in biomedical research, many applicable in the clinic in the near future. Due to the ability to fine-tune the physicochemical properties of these materials, the field has experienced an impressive burst in the number of publications. As controlled drug delivery systems are one of the most promising applications for human health care, it is now necessary to set the milestones of this technology, from the very basic to the most advanced.Biomedical Applications of Mesoporous Ceramics: Drug Delivery, Smart Materials and Bone Tissue Engineering is a comprehensive overview of silica-based mesoporous materials with special attention given to their use in drug delivery systems, sophisticated stimuli-responsive materials, and bone tissue engineering. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the basic aspects of the properties of mesoporous materials, with a focus on textural properties such as surface and porosity. Starting from this consolidated knowledge, it then addresses various aspects of more sophisticated stimuli-responsive materials and bone tissue engineering, detailing the research and development of these biomedical applications.

Recent developments in nanostructured materials have led to a shift in focus away from the replacement of tissues and towards regeneration. Nanoceramics with biomimetic properties have great potential in bone regeneration and new synthesis strategies have been developed to obtain materials with improved biocompatibility and multifunctional performance. The aim is to develop fully biocompatible implants, which exhibit biological responses at the nanometric scale in the same way that biogenic materials do. Current man-made implants are not fully biocompatible and always result in a foreign body reaction involving inflammatory response and fibrous encapsulation. Great efforts have, therefore, been made to develop synthetic strategies that tailor implant surfaces at the nanometric scale. The intention is to optimize the interaction at the tissue/implant interface thus improving quality of life for patients with enhanced results and shorter rehabilitation periods. This book deals with 'new bioceramics' for 'new applications'. Current and future applications are considered in terms of chemical composition, structure and properties. It explains the processes that (from the point of view of solid state and sol-gel chemistry) lead to better bone implants and other medical devices. The book is structured to make it useful for students of biomaterials, but also as a reference for specialists interested in specific topics. Didactic figures and schemes make it easy for under-graduates to understand and the extended bibliography is indispensable for researchers. The introductions to each chapter deal with some common fundamental concepts thus allowing the comprehension of each one independently. The first chapter describes biological hard tissues in vertebrates, from the point of view of mineralization processes. Concepts of hard tissue mineralization are employed to explain how nature works and an overview of artificial alternatives is provided. Chapter 2 details several synthesis methodologies used to prepare nano-apatites. The aim is to obtain artificial carbonated calcium deficient nano-apatites that resemble, as closely as possible, natural biological apatites. A review on synthesis methods is collected in the bibliography. Chapter 3 describes, in-depth, the biomimetic processes used to prepare apatites similar to biological ones. It focuses on hard tissue-related biomimetism and deals with nanoceramics obtained as a consequence of biomimetic processes. Valuable information about the most widely used biomimetic solutions and evaluation methods are included. The final chapter provides an overview of the current and potential clinical applications of apatite-like biomimetic nanoceramics, intended as biomaterials for hard tissue repair, therapy and diagnosis.

This publication offers a unique approach that links the materials science of bioceramics to clinical needs and applications.Providing a structured account of this highly active area of research, the book reviews the clinical applications in bone tissue engineering, bone regeneration, joint replacement, drug-delivery systems and biomimetism, this book is an ideal resource for materials scientists and engineers, as well as for clinicians.From the contents:Part I Introduction1. Bioceramics2. BiomimeticsPart II Materials3. Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics4. Silica-based Ceramics: Glasses5. Silica-based Ceramics: Mesoporous Silica6. Alumina, Zirconia, and Other Non-oxide Inert Bioceramics7. Carbon-based Materials in BiomedicinePart III Material Shaping8. Cements9. Bioceramic Coatings for Medical Implants10. Scaffold DesigningPart IV Research on Future Ceramics11. Bone Biology and Regeneration12. Ceramics for Drug Delivery13. Ceramics for Gene Transfection14. Ceramic Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment

Developments in mesoporous ceramics in drug delivery, nanomedicine, and bone tissue regeneration have opened promising developments in biomedical research, many applicable in the clinic in the near future. Due to the ability to fine-tune the physicochemical properties of these materials, the field has experienced an impressive burst in the number of publications. As controlled drug delivery systems are one of the most promising applications for human health care, it is now necessary to set the milestones of this technology, from the very basic to the most advanced.Biomedical Applications of Mesoporous Ceramics: Drug Delivery, Smart Materials and Bone Tissue Engineering is a comprehensive overview of silica-based mesoporous materials with special attention given to their use in drug delivery systems, sophisticated stimuli-responsive materials, and bone tissue engineering. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the basic aspects of the properties of mesoporous materials, with a focus on textural properties such as surface and porosity. Starting from this consolidated knowledge, it then addresses various aspects of more sophisticated stimuli-responsive materials and bone tissue engineering, detailing the research and development of these biomedical applications.