Special Issue "Ceramics for Healthcare"
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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomaterials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2009)
Special Issue Editor
Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. Jérôme Chevalier
INSA Lyon, UMR CNRS 5510, 20 Avenue Albert Einstein, 69621 Villeurbanne, Cedex, France
E-Mail: jerome.chevalier@insa-lyon.fr
Interests: ceramics; organic-inorganic composites; biomaterials; mechanical properties; Brittle fracture and fatigue
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
High-tech ceramics have always been associated to medical devices: they are used today for total hip replacement, heart valves, dental implants and restorations, bone fillers and scaffolds for tissue engineering. Ceramic particles and microspheres are also useful for the radiotherapy of cancers. This is the aim of this special issue to review current state of the art and new findings in the field of ceramics for orthopedic, dental, cardiovascular and cancer treatments. In addition to review papers written by leading scientists, manuscripts on new approaches to material design, processing and characterization, including in-vitro and in-vivo studies, on new compositions with improved properties or surface modification are welcome.
Prof. Dr. Jérôme Chevalier
Guest Editor
Submission
All papers should be submitted to materials@mdpi.com. To be published continuously until the deadline and papers will be listed together at the special issue website.
Submitted papers should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere. All papers are refereed through a peer-review process. A guide for authors is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed quarterly journal published by MDPI. Review manuscripts: Before writing their manuscripts, potential authors of review articles should forward the title and a short abstract to materials@mdpi.com. We will then provide feedback on the suitability of the topic.
Open Access publication fees are 300 CHF per paper. English correction fees and/or formatting fees (250 CHF) will be added in certain cases (550 CHF per paper for those papers that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections).
Keywords
- Biomedical ceramics
- Tissue engineering
- Alumina
- Zirconia
- Calcium phosphate
- Bioactive glasses
- Scaffolds
- Composites
- Nano-particles
Published Papers (14 papers)
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Received: 19 October 2009; in revised form: 16 November 2009 / Accepted: 18 November 2009 / Published: 19 November 2009
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Abstract: The number of grafting procedures, including those performed in primary and revision hip arthroplasty, continues to rise around the world. Demand for musculoskeletal donor tissue now outstrips supply. There is no single bone substitute that is ideal for all circumstances. Bone substitutes act as a scaffold and are usually osteoconductive. They are rarely osteoinductive; if they are, a molecular bond is formed between the graft and host bone, improving fixation and longevity. Bone graft substitutes are very rarely osteogenic. There is a growing body of clinical evidence supporting the use of bone graft substitutes in vivo for complex hip arthroplasty.
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Received: 1 December 2009; in revised form: 21 December 2009 / Accepted: 25 December 2009 / Published: 25 December 2009
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Abstract: Biomaterials include bioceramics, biometals, biopolymers and biocomposites and they play important roles in the replacement and regeneration of human tissues. However, dense bioceramics and dense biometals pose the problem of stress shielding due to their high Young’s moduli compared to those of bones. On the other hand, porous biomaterials exhibit the potential of bone ingrowth, which will depend on porous parameters such as pore size, pore interconnectivity, and porosity. Unfortunately, a highly porous biomaterial results in poor mechanical properties. To optimise the mechanical and the biological properties, porous biomaterials with graded/gradient porosity, pores size, and/or composition have been developed. Graded/gradient porous biomaterials have many advantages over graded/gradient dense biomaterials and uniform or homogenous porous biomaterials. The internal pore surfaces of graded/gradient porous biomaterials can be modified with organic, inorganic, or biological coatings and the internal pores themselves can also be filled with biocompatible and biodegradable materials or living cells. However, graded/gradient porous biomaterials are generally more difficult to fabricate than uniform or homogenous porous biomaterials. With the development of cost-effective processing techniques, graded/gradient porous biomaterials can find wide applications in bone defect filling, implant fixation, bone replacement, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.
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Received: 30 November 2009; in revised form: 16 December 2009 / Accepted: 22 December 2009 / Published: 25 December 2009
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Abstract: Sodium titanate formed on Ti metal by NaOH and heat treatments induces apatite formation on its surface in a body environment and bonds to living bone. These treatments have been applied to porous Ti metal in artificial hip joints, and have been used clinically in Japan since 2007. Calcium titanate formed on Ti-15Zr-4Nb-4Ta alloy by NaOH, CaCl2, heat, and water treatments induces apatite formation on its surface in a body environment. Titanium oxide formed on porous Ti metal by NaOH, HCl, and heat treatments exhibits osteoinductivity as well as osteoconductivity. This is now under clinical tests for application to a spinal fusion device.
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Received: 1 December 2009; in revised form: 22 December 2009 / Accepted: 25 December 2009 / Published: 28 December 2009
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Abstract: Glass ionomer cements (GICs) are clinically attractive dental materials that have certain unique properties that make them useful as restorative and luting materials. This includes adhesion to moist tooth structures and base metals, anticariogenic properties due to release of fluoride, thermal compatibility with tooth enamel, biocompatibility and low toxicity. The use of GICs in a mechanically loaded situation, however, has been hampered by their low mechanical performance. Poor mechanical properties, such as low fracture strength, toughness and wear, limit their extensive use in dentistry as a filling material in stress-bearing applications. In the posterior dental region, glass ionomer cements are mostly used as a temporary filling material. The requirement to strengthen those cements has lead to an ever increasing research effort into reinforcement or strengthening concepts.
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Received: 1 December 2009; in revised form: 5 January 2010 / Accepted: 7 January 2010 / Published: 11 January 2010
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Abstract: Over the past forty years, the technological evolution of ceramics for dental applications has been remarkable, as new materials and processing techniques are steadily being introduced. The improvement in both strength and toughness has made it possible to expand the range of indications to long-span fixed partial prostheses, implant abutments and implants. The present review provides a state of the art of ceramics for dental applications.
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Received: 26 November 2009; in revised form: 12 January 2010 / Accepted: 15 January 2010 / Published: 18 January 2010
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Abstract: Calcium phosphate cements have been in clinical use for the last 10 years. Their most salient features include good biocompatibility, excellent bioactivity, self-setting characteristics, low setting temperature, adequate stiffness, and easy shaping to accomodate any complicated geometry. They are commonly used in filling bone defects and trauma surgeries as mouldable paste-like bone substitute materials. Substitution of trace elements, such as Mg, Sr and Zn ions, into the structure of calcium phosphates is the subject of widespread investigation nowadays, because of their impending role in the biological process. Subtle differences in composition and structure of these materials may have a profound effect on their in vivo behaviour. Therefore, the main goal of this paper is to provide a simple, but comprehensive overview of the present achievements relating to brushite-forming cements doped with Mg, Zn and Sr, and to identify new developments and trends. In particular, the influence of ionic substitution on the chemical, physical and biological properties of these materials is discussed.
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Received: 2 December 2009; in revised form: 21 January 2010 / Accepted: 25 January 2010 / Published: 28 January 2010
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Abstract: Spark plasma sintered 3Y-TZP has been investigated with respect to hydrothermal ageing and grinding. The sintering was performed between the temperatures of 1,100 and 1,600 °C for a soaking time of 5 minutes and the resulting materials were obtained with grain sizes between 65 to 800 nm and relative densities between 88.5 to 98.8%. Experiments on hydrothermal ageing in water vapour at 131 °C, 2 bars during 60 hours shows that phase stability is retained, elastic modulus and hardness of near surface region measured by nanoindentation does not change in fine grain (<200 nm) materials, in spite of porosity. In ground specimens, very small amount of transformation was found for all grain sizes studied.
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Received: 1 December 2009; in revised form: 17 January 2010 / Accepted: 27 January 2010 / Published: 29 January 2010
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Abstract: Biphasic calcium phosphates (BCP) have been sought after as biomaterials for the reconstruction of bone defects in maxillofacial, dental and orthopaedic applications. They have demonstrated proven biocompatibility, osteoconductivity, safety and predictability in in vitro, in vivo and clinical models. More recently, in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that BCP can be osteoinductive. In the field of tissue engineering, they represent promising scaffolds capable of carrying and modulating the behavior of stem cells. This review article will highlight the latest advancements in the use of BCP and the characteristics that create a unique microenvironment that favors bone regeneration.
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Received: 1 December 2009; in revised form: 26 January 2010 / Accepted: 28 January 2010 / Published: 1 February 2010
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Abstract: The positive results of the performance of zirconia for orthopedics devices have led the dental community to explore possible esthetical and mechanical outcomes using this material. However, questions regarding long-term results have opened strong and controversial discussions regarding the utilization of zirconia as a substitute for alloys for restorations and implants. This narrative review presents the current knowledge on zirconia utilized for dental restorations, oral implant components, and zirconia oral implants, and also addresses laboratory tests and developments, clinical performance, and possible future trends of this material for dental healthcare.
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Received: 7 December 2009; in revised form: 29 January 2010 / Accepted: 9 February 2010 / Published: 10 February 2010
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Abstract: Although block- or granular-type sintered hydroxyapatite are known to show excellent tissue responses and good osteoconductivity, apatite powder elicits inflammatory response. For the fabrication of hydroxyapatite block or granules, sintering is commonly employed. However, the inorganic component of bone and tooth is not high crystalline hydroxyapatite but low crystalline B-type carbonate apatite. Unfortunately, carbonate apatite powder cannot be sintered due to its instability at high temperature. Another method to fabricate apatite block and/or granule is through phase transformation based on dissolution-precipitation reactions using a precursor phase. This reaction basically is the same as a setting and hardening reaction of calcium sulfate or plaster. In this paper, apatite block fabrication methods by phase transformation based on dissolution-precipitation reactions will be discussed, with a focus on the similarity of the setting and hardening reaction of calcium sulfate.
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Received: 5 February 2010; in revised form: 24 February 2010 / Accepted: 16 March 2010 / Published: 17 March 2010
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Abstract: The freeze-casting of porous materials has received a great deal of attention during the past few years. This simple process, where a material suspension is simply frozen and then sublimated, provides materials with unique porous architectures, where the porosity is almost a direct replica of the frozen solvent crystals. This review focuses on the recent results on the process and the derived porous structures with regards to the biomaterials applications. Of particular interest is the architecture of the materials and the versatility of the process, which can be readily controlled and applied to biomaterials applications. A careful control of the starting formulation and processing conditions is required to control the integrity of the structure and resulting properties. Further in vitro and in vivo investigations are required to validate the potential of this new class of porous materials.
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Received: 3 February 2010; in revised form: 3 April 2010 / Accepted: 12 April 2010 / Published: 28 April 2010
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Abstract: This study evaluated the influence of cyclic loading on zirconia bar-shaped specimens after being subjected to three different surface treatments: particle abrasion with either 50 μm or 110 μm alumina and grinding with diamond points, while polished specimens served as a control. Statistical analysis revealed significant reduction (38-67%) in flexure strength (P < 0.001) after three million cycles of dynamic loading for all surface treatments. Scanning electron imaging revealed grain boundary thickening, grain pull-out, and micro-cracking as the main structural defects. The results suggest that various surface treatments of zirconia based dental ceramics may significantly influence their long term fatigue resistance in the oral environment.
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Received: 7 May 2010 / Accepted: 17 June 2010 / Published: 19 June 2010
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Abstract: The main properties (mechanical, thermal and chemical) and clinical application for dental restoration are demonstrated for three types of glass-ceramics and sintered polycrystalline ceramic produced by Ivoclar Vivadent AG. Two types of glass-ceramics are derived from the leucite-type and the lithium disilicate-type. The third type of dental materials represents a ZrO2 ceramic. CAD/CAM technology is a procedure to manufacture dental ceramic restoration. Leucite-type glass-ceramics demonstrate high translucency, preferable optical/mechanical properties and an application as dental inlays, onlays and crowns. Based on an improvement of the mechanical parameters, specially the strength and toughness, the lithium disilicate glass-ceramics are used as crowns; applying a procedure to machine an intermediate product and producing the final glass-ceramic by an additional heat treatment. Small dental bridges of lithium disilicate glass-ceramic were fabricated using a molding technology. ZrO2 ceramics show high toughness and strength and were veneered with fluoroapatite glass-ceramic. Machining is possible with a porous intermediate product.
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Received: 20 May 2010 / Accepted: 29 June 2010 / Published: 6 July 2010
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Abstract: Traditionally, bioactive glasses have been used to fill and restore bone defects. More recently, this category of biomaterials has become an emerging research field for bone tissue engineering applications. Here, we review and discuss current knowledge on porous bone tissue engineering scaffolds on the basis of melt-derived bioactive silicate glass compositions and relevant composite structures. Starting with an excerpt on the history of bioactive glasses, as well as on fundamental requirements for bone tissue engineering scaffolds, a detailed overview on recent developments of bioactive glass and glass-ceramic scaffolds will be given, including a summary of common fabrication methods and a discussion on the microstructural-mechanical properties of scaffolds in relation to human bone (structure-property and structure-function relationship). In addition, ion release effects of bioactive glasses concerning osteogenic and angiogenic responses are addressed. Finally, areas of future research are highlighted in this review.
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Last update: 18 January 2013
