Ceramics in Biology and Medicine

Bioceramics are ceramics used for the repair and reconstruction of human body parts. There are many applications for bioceramics currently the most important is in implants such as alumina hip prostheses. Alumina is classified as an inert bioceramic because it has very low reactivity in the body. However, bioactive materials have the ability to bond directly with bone. The advantages are 

A major problem with this topic stems from the realization that you caimot replace bone if you do not understand why bone has such incredible mechanical properties. So if you work in this field you must learn about biology. 

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The power of laser ablation can be extended as a popular method for trace and bulk analysis in conjunction with ICP-OES and is an invaluable tool in the study of surface behaviour particularly where sensitive surfaces are important. The common area for surface knowledge is in environment, medicines, adhesives, powders, slurries, oil-based samples and liquids. It finds application in the analysis of metallurgical samples, non-conductive polymers, ceramic materials, surface mapping, elemental migration, depth profiling, thin film coatings, biological and clinical specimens, forensic, paint chips, inks, bullets, fabrics, etc. 

Kumar E, Shimizu K., Oka M., Kotoura Y., Nakayama Y, Yamamuro T., Yanagida T, and Makinouchi K. 1989. Biological reaction of zirconia ceramics. In Bioceramics. Proceedings of 1st International Symposium on Ceramics in Medicine. H. Oonishi, H. Aoki, and K. Sawai (Eds.), pp. 341-346, Ishiyaku Euroamerica, Inc., Tokyo. 

Abe, Y., Kokubo, T. and Yamamuro, T. (1990) Apatite coating on ceramics, metals and polymers utilizing a biological process. Journal of Materials Science-Materials in Medicine, 1, 233-238. 

Perhaps plans have not heen formulated in several cases, or results disseminated. The avenues of research that the identification of a natural product may open are many, so that in the true sense these compounds may be considered allelochemic (J )as opposed to strictly allelopathic. For example, the discovery of a novel biologically active natural product logically presupposes that the metabolic pathway will eventually he elucidated, that possible synthesis, or partial synthesis may be attempted, that homologs and analogs will be described and that other areas may be considered for eventual employment of these materials, not only in more obvious uses such as pesticides, hut also medicinal and non-biological areas. An example of a non-biological use is that of orlandin ( ) which is denatured in acetone to produce an acid and base resistant product which is ceramic-like and is not soluble in organic solvents. 

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