User:Neillawrence/bioceramic

Bioceramics and bioglasses are ceramic materials which are biocompatible. Bioceramics are an important subset of biomaterials .. Bioceramics range in biocompatibility from the ceramic oxides which are inert in the body, to the other extreme of resorbable materials which are eventually replaced by the materials which they were used to repair. Bioceramics are used in many types of medical procedures. One of the primary medical procedures in which they are used is implants.

History
Prior to 1925 the materials used in implant surgery were primarily relatively pure metals. The success of these materials was surprising considering the relatively primitive surgical techniques. 1925 marked the beginning of the era of better surgical techniques and also the first use of alloys such as Ti-64Al-4V. In 1969 L. L. Hench and others discovered that various kinds of glasses and ceramics could bond to living bone.

Current status
Ceramics are now commonly used in the medical fields as dental, and bone implants.

Future trends
One proposed use for bioceramics is the treatment of cancer. Two methods of treatment have been proposed; treatment through hyperthermia, and radiotherapy. Hyperthermia treatment involves implanting a bioceramic material which contains a ferrite or other magnetic material. The area is then exposed to alternating magnetic field which causes the implant to heat up. Alternatively the bioceramic materials can be doped with β emitting materials and implanted into the cancerous area. .

Bioceramic Materials
Bioceramic materials are commonly subdivided into their bioactivity. Bioinert materials are those which are non-toxic, non-inflammation causing