Nanostructured Zirconia in Bioactive Apatite-Based Ceramics

Nanostructured Zirconia in Bioactive Apatite-Based Ceramics 

In contrast to early approaches involving purely bioinert materials, the concept of bioactive ceramics was founded on the assumption that optimum biocompatibility can only be achieved by promoting the formation of normal tissue on the surface of ceramic implants [129, 156]. Such biologically active implants are interfacially bonded to the surrounding tissue, and therefore provide optimum fixation, preventing phenomena such as micromovements that might lead either to deteriora- 

Figu re 8.18 Scanning electron microscopy images of hydroxyapatite-zirconia composites obtained via a gel mixing strategy, using (a) zirconium hydroxide and (b) crystalline zirconia, compared to composites obtained after colloidal addition of crystalline zirconia nanoparticles (c, d) [164]. 

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