Research status of artificial bone materials

Abstract

The many types of material currently used to treat bone injuries (caused by various reasons) have undergone changes over time. From the initial metal implants of stainless steel or titanium to those made of ceramics and polymers (which are now widely used), each material has its own advantages, disadvantages, and suitable uses. Artificial bone material needs to be selected according to the different stress conditions of the body part in which it will be used, and the characteristics of the different materials need to be studied before a reasonable selection of the material can be made. This article reviews the artificial bone materials that have been studied so far, including metals, inorganic nonmetallic materials, polymers, and composites. Their advantages, disadvantages, and development status undergo comprehensive analysis, and the basis for future material selection is provided. An examination of publications shows that the future trend in developing bone materials for treating bone defects is to combine the above-mentioned materials with growth factors and bioactive proteins. This article may be helpful for choosing the right materials.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Artificial bone
• biological material
• composite materials
• single materials
• tissue engineering

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by Key Research and Development Plan of Shandong Province [2018GGX103006], the National Natural Science Foundation of China [51675289] and the National Natural Science Foundation of Shandong, China [No. ZR2017LEE013].