Nanocomposites for Orthopedic Tissue Regeneration and Drug Delivery

There are significant clinical demands for better orthopedic/dental biomaterials that exhibit chemical, biological, structural, mechanical and surface properties close to healthy bone. Nanophase ceramics mimic the dimensions of constituent components of natural bone and enhance the functions of bone cells compared to conventional ceramics. However, ceramics are inherently brittle and difficult to process into complex structures for orthopedic/dental applications. Nanophase ceramic/polymer composites, therefore, present a new generation of biomaterials with novel properties for better bone regeneration. This book introduces how nanocomposites can be tailored, fabricated and conjugated to control bone cell functions and drug release and demonstrates why the nanocomposites are promising for more effective bone tissue regeneration and bone disease treatment. This book is dedicated to provide glimpses of the potential of nanocomposites for orthopedic/dental applications and catalyze development of new ideas for improving clinical treatment. This book is a useful reference for scientists, engineers and medical professionals in the field.