Abstract
This topical review describes the salient results of recent research on silicon nitride, a ceramic material with unique properties. The outcome of this ongoing research strongly encourages the use of monolithic silicon nitride and coatings as contemporary and future biomaterial for a variety of medical applications. Crystallographic structure, the synthesis and processing of monolithic structures and coatings, as well as examples of their medical applications that relate to spinal, orthopedic and dental implants, bone grafts and scaffolds, platforms for intelligent synthetic neural circuits, antibacterial and antiviral particles and coatings, optical biosensors, and nano-photonic waveguides for sophisticated medical diagnostic devices are all covered in the research reviewed herein. The examples provided convincingly show that silicon nitride is destined to become a leader to replace titanium and other entrenched biomaterials in many fields of medicine.
Highlights
Today, the research and development of metallic, ceramic, polymeric and composite biomaterials have progressed to a high level of involvement and sophistication
These results strongly suggest that non-oxide ceramics such as silicon nitride with high mechanical strength may be useful future biomaterial candidates for highly loaded ceramic hip resurfacing (HR) endoprostheses based on their low wear rate, low friction coefficient, and pronounced biocompatibility and antibacterial properties [44]
The research and development effort on silicon nitride has impressively shown that this unique ceramic biomaterial provides a host of advantageous properties conducive to application in modern medicine as part of prosthetic devices in orthopedic, dental, cardiovascular, ophthalmological, and reconstructive surgeries
Summary
The research and development of metallic, ceramic, polymeric and composite biomaterials have progressed to a high level of involvement and sophistication This is related to the fact that an ever-increasing part of the world population is in need of the repair or replacement of dysfunctional or damaged parts of the body, such as dental roots and teeth, alveolar ridge augmentation, intraocular lenses, heart pacemakers, cochlear implants, and hip and knee endoprostheses [1]. Increasing interest has been devoted to silicon nitride, an advanced ceramic material that excels by high compressive and flexural strengths, comparatively high fracture toughness, very low friction coefficient, strong corrosion resistance, improved medical imaging ability based on radiolucency in the visible and near-infrared region, enhanced biocompatibility and osseoconductivity, antimicrobial activity, and microengineering capability conducive to integrate electronics and mechanics together with computational, chemical and optical elements Owing to these properties, silicon nitride is emerging as a novel and promising bioceramic material for a multitude of medical applications. In light of all these beneficial properties, silicon nitride may be correctly considered as close to ideal bioceramics
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
