A Short Review on Polymer, Metal and Ceramic Based Implant Materials

Abstract

The present work focuses on the evaluation of polymer, metal and ceramic based biomaterials with particular emphasis on success rate of these materials till date along with the merits and demerits of these material system. Currently, the search for the materials with improved performance is on rise for biomedical (mainly total hip replacement, THR) applications owing to increase in the number of orthopedic patients worldwide. The clinicians utilized polymer and metal-based implants in ancient times to heal and treat the bone imperfections as well as fractures. The next generation materials required an update on properties, cell material interactions, repair and regeneration, that can only be acquired from recent knowledge related to materials. The commonly employed polymers (natural based polymers, proteins or polysaccharides; and synthetic polymers, poly (lactic acid), poly (glycolic acid), poly (ε-caprolactone), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)) and metals (SS, Mg-alloy, Ti-alloys, Co-alloy, silver, and nickel-titanium alloys) failed to fulfill the long-term durability and lacked in generating adequate bonding with the bones. It is intended that the facts and details abridged in this review article ought to be a beneficial tool in the development of progressively eminent implant materials like ceramic based materials against premature failure, cyclic stress generation, wear, corrosion fatigue, implant loosening and ultimate fracture.