抄録
The use in the medical field of materials such as stainless steel and polyethylene that were originally developed for general engineering applications rather than for tissue replacement in human bodies has been successful and most of these proven materials will be continuously used in the healthcare industry. However, there are also shortcomings of these materials for their intended medical applications. Using natural tissues as templates, novel, ″designer biomaterials″ are being developed for tissue replacement and regeneration. New composite materials that mimic the structure and match properties of body tissues have been produced. The bioactive phase in the composites can be bioactive ceramics or glasses, and matrix materials include bio-stable polymers and biodegradable polymers. Having satisfied criteria such as biocompatibility and mechanical compatibility, the new biomaterials, due to their high bioactivity, can interact with biological systems and are expected to succeed in replacing damaged or diseased tissues and restore body functions.
