Development and evaluation of the properties of functional ceramic microspheres for biomedical applications

Abstract

Radioactive or magnetic ceramic microspheres 20–30 µm in diameter are useful for intra-arterial radiotherapy or hyperthermia. Antibacterial ceramic microspheres can provide antibacterial activity for biomedical polymers such as dental resin. Bioactive ceramic microspheres with drug load/release properties are useful, moreover, as inorganic fillers for bone cement and can also be used in chemoembolization therapy. The author introduces some successes and challenges associated with the development of functional ceramic microspheres for biomedical applications.