Advanced biomaterials with great promise for use in dental and biomedical applications are bio-ceramic and polymer composites. These composites combine the flexibility, biodegradability, and processability of polymers with the mechanical strength, bioactivity, and biocompatibility of bio-ceramics. Clinical success is often limited by the biological response and tissue compatibility of conventional materials such as metals and single-phase ceramics. Oste conductivity and bone-like characteristics are exhibited by bio-ceramic materials, such as hydroxyapatite (HA), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), zirconia, and bioactive glasses, whereas polymers, like chitosan, polycaprolactone (PCL), and polyether ketone (PEEK), are recognized for their mechanical strength and ease of processing. These materials can be hybridized to create composites with improved qualities that can be used in biodegradable. The performance of these composites has been further enhanced by developments in nanotechnology and additive manufacturing techniques, which allow for fine control over surface characteristics and structure. Implants with optimum mechanical and biological qualities can be made for each patient using fabrication techniques like 3D printing, electrospinning, and freeze-drying. Bioceramic–polymer composites have demonstrated enhanced osseointegration and decreased bacterial colonization in dental applications, including crowns, bridges, bone grafts, and guided tissue regeneration. Poor interfacial bonding, irregular degradation rates, expensive manufacturing costs, and a lack of clinical trials are still issues, though. The goal of future research is to create intelligent composites with integrated drug delivery systems, self-repairing capabilities, and antimicrobial qualities. Overcoming these obstacles and achieving the full potential of bio-ceramic–polymer composites in next-generation biomedical devices will require sustained interdisciplinary cooperation and technological developments.

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1. Hench LL. Bioceramics: From concept to clinic. J Am Ceram Soc. 1991;74:1487–1510. doi: 10.1111/j.1151-2916.1991.tb07112.x.

2. Wang J, Zhang L, Wang K. Bioactive ceramic-based materials: Beneficial properties and potential applications in dental repair and regeneration. Expert Rev Med Devices. 2024;19(5):257–278. doi: 10.1080/17460751.2024.2343555.

3. Ratner BD, Hoffman AS, Schoen FJ. Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine. 2nd ed. San Diego: Academic Press; 2004. ISBN: 9780080470368.

4. Adeleke AS, Bushroa AR, Sopyan I. Recent development of calcium phosphate-based coatings on titanium alloy implants. Surf Eng Appl Electrochem. 2017;53(5):419–433. doi: 10.3103/S1068375517050027.

5. O’Brien FJ. Biomaterials & scaffolds for tissue engineering. Mater Today. 2011;14:88–95. doi: 10.1016/S1369-7021(11)70058-X.

6. Liu X, Ma P. Polymeric scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: 2nd special edition on musculoskeletal bioengineering. Ann Biomed Eng. 2004;32(3). doi: 10.1023/B:ABME.0000017544.36001.8e.

7. Bose S, Vahabzadeh S, Bandyopadhyay A. Bone tissue engineering using 3D printing. Mater Today. 2013;16:496–504. doi: 10.1016/j.mattod.2013.11.017.

8. Asefnejad A, Movahedi M, Poodineh Hajipour F. Smart Materials for Tissue Engineering Application. Tehran: Entesharat Norozi; 2019. ISBN: 978-662-02-0594-4.

9. Dash M, Chiellini F, Ottenbrite RM, Chiellini E. Chitosan—A versatile semi-synthetic polymer in biomedical applications. Prog Polym Sci. 2011;36:981–1014. doi: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2011.02.001.

10. Dorozhkin SV. Bioceramics of calcium orthophosphates. Biomaterials. 2010;31:1465–1485. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2009.11.050.

11. Abd El-Ghany OS, Sherief AH. Zirconia-based ceramics: Some clinical and biological aspects – review. Future Dent J. 2016;2:55–64. doi: 10.1016/j.fdj.2016.10.002.

12. Skallevold HE, Rokaya D, Khurshid Z, Zafar MS. Bioactive glass applications in dentistry. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(23):5960. doi: 10.3390/ijms20235960.

13. Piconi C, Maccauro G. Zirconia as a ceramic biomaterial. Biomaterials. 1999;20:1–25. doi: 10.1016/S0142-9612(98)00010-6.

14. Mano JF, Silva GA, Azevedo HS, Malafaya PB, Sousa RA, Silva SS, et al. Natural origin biodegradable systems in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine: Present status and some moving trends. J R Soc Interface. 2007;4:999–1030. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2007.0220.

15. Middleton JC, Tipton AJ. Synthetic biodegradable polymers as orthopaedic biomaterials. Biomaterials. 2000;21:2335–2346. doi: 10.1016/S0142-9612(00)00101-0.

16. Khan MUA, Abd Razak SI, Mohamed Ansari MN, Mohamed Zulkifli R, Ahmad Zawawi N, Arshad M. Development of biodegradable bio-based composite for bone tissue engineering: Synthesis, characterization and in vitro biocompatible evaluation. Polym (Basel). 2021;13:3611. doi: 10.3390/polym13213611.

17. Senra MR, Marques MFV, Monteiro SN. Poly(ether-ether-ketone) for biomedical applications: From enhancing bioactivity to reinforced-bioactive composites—an overview. Polym (Basel). 2023;15:373. doi: 10.3390/polym15020373.

18. Asghari F, Samiei M, Adibkia K, Akbarzadeh A, Davaran S. Biodegradable and biocompatible polymers for tissue engineering application: A review. Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol. 2016;45(2):185–192. doi: 10.3109/21691401.2016.1146731.

19. Szymczyk P, Labowska MB, Detyna J, Michalak I, Gruber P. A review of fabrication polymer scaffolds for biomedical applications using additive manufacturing techniques. Biocybern Biomed Eng. 2020;40:1–15. doi: 10.1016/j.bbe.2020.01.015.

20. Hasan A, Morshed M, Memic A, Hassan S, Webster TJ, Marei HE. Nanoparticles in tissue engineering: Applications, challenges and prospects. Int J Nanomedicine. 2018;13:5637–5655. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S153758.

21. Pupilli F, Ruffini A, Dapporto M, Tavoni M, Tampieri A, Sprio S. Design strategies and biomimetic approaches for calcium phosphate scaffolds in bone tissue regeneration. Biomimetics (Basel). 2022;7(3):112. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics7030112.

22. Imre B, Pukánszky B. Compatibilization in bio-based and biodegradable polymer blends. Eur Polym J. 2013;49(6):1215–1233. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2013.01.019.

23. Liu W, Zu L, Wang S, Li J, Fei X, Geng M, et al. Tailored biomedical materials for wound healing. Burns Trauma. 2023;11:1–19. doi: 10.1093/burnst/tkad040.

24. Yu JJ, Park SA, Kim WD, Ha T, Xin YZ, Lee J, et al. Current advances in 3D bioprinting technology and its applications for tissue engineering. Polym (Basel). 2020;12(12):2958. doi: 10.3390/polym12122958.

Advanced biomaterials with great promise for use in dental and biomedical applications are bio-ceramic and polymer composites. These composites combine the flexibility, biodegradability, and processability of polymers with the mechanical strength, bioactivity, and biocompatibility of bio-ceramics. Clinical success is often limited by the biological response and tissue compatibility of conventional materials such as metals and single-phase ceramics. Oste conductivity and bone-like characteristics are exhibited by bio-ceramic materials, such as hydroxyapatite (HA), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), zirconia, and bioactive glasses, whereas polymers, like chitosan, polycaprolactone (PCL), and polyether ketone (PEEK), are recognized for their mechanical strength and ease of processing. These materials can be hybridized to create composites with improved qualities that can be used in biodegradable. The performance of these composites has been further enhanced by developments in nanotechnology and additive manufacturing techniques, which allow for fine control over surface characteristics and structure. Implants with optimum mechanical and biological qualities can be made for each patient using fabrication techniques like 3D printing, electrospinning, and freeze-drying. Bioceramic–polymer composites have demonstrated enhanced osseointegration and decreased bacterial colonization in dental applications, including crowns, bridges, bone grafts, and guided tissue regeneration. Poor interfacial bonding, irregular degradation rates, expensive manufacturing costs, and a lack of clinical trials are still issues, though. The goal of future research is to create intelligent composites with integrated drug delivery systems, self-repairing capabilities, and antimicrobial qualities. Overcoming these obstacles and achieving the full potential of bio-ceramic–polymer composites in next-generation biomedical devices will require sustained interdisciplinary cooperation and technological developments.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Hench LL. Bioceramics: From concept to clinic. J Am Ceram Soc. 1991;74:1487–1510. doi: 10.1111/j.1151-2916.1991.tb07112.x.

2. Wang J, Zhang L, Wang K. Bioactive ceramic-based materials: Beneficial properties and potential applications in dental repair and regeneration. Expert Rev Med Devices. 2024;19(5):257–278. doi: 10.1080/17460751.2024.2343555.

3. Ratner BD, Hoffman AS, Schoen FJ. Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine. 2nd ed. San Diego: Academic Press; 2004. ISBN: 9780080470368.

4. Adeleke AS, Bushroa AR, Sopyan I. Recent development of calcium phosphate-based coatings on titanium alloy implants. Surf Eng Appl Electrochem. 2017;53(5):419–433. doi: 10.3103/S1068375517050027.

5. O’Brien FJ. Biomaterials & scaffolds for tissue engineering. Mater Today. 2011;14:88–95. doi: 10.1016/S1369-7021(11)70058-X.

6. Liu X, Ma P. Polymeric scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: 2nd special edition on musculoskeletal bioengineering. Ann Biomed Eng. 2004;32(3). doi: 10.1023/B:ABME.0000017544.36001.8e.

7. Bose S, Vahabzadeh S, Bandyopadhyay A. Bone tissue engineering using 3D printing. Mater Today. 2013;16:496–504. doi: 10.1016/j.mattod.2013.11.017.

8. Asefnejad A, Movahedi M, Poodineh Hajipour F. Smart Materials for Tissue Engineering Application. Tehran: Entesharat Norozi; 2019. ISBN: 978-662-02-0594-4.

9. Dash M, Chiellini F, Ottenbrite RM, Chiellini E. Chitosan—A versatile semi-synthetic polymer in biomedical applications. Prog Polym Sci. 2011;36:981–1014. doi: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2011.02.001.

10. Dorozhkin SV. Bioceramics of calcium orthophosphates. Biomaterials. 2010;31:1465–1485. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2009.11.050.

11. Abd El-Ghany OS, Sherief AH. Zirconia-based ceramics: Some clinical and biological aspects – review. Future Dent J. 2016;2:55–64. doi: 10.1016/j.fdj.2016.10.002.

12. Skallevold HE, Rokaya D, Khurshid Z, Zafar MS. Bioactive glass applications in dentistry. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(23):5960. doi: 10.3390/ijms20235960.

13. Piconi C, Maccauro G. Zirconia as a ceramic biomaterial. Biomaterials. 1999;20:1–25. doi: 10.1016/S0142-9612(98)00010-6.

14. Mano JF, Silva GA, Azevedo HS, Malafaya PB, Sousa RA, Silva SS, et al. Natural origin biodegradable systems in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine: Present status and some moving trends. J R Soc Interface. 2007;4:999–1030. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2007.0220.

15. Middleton JC, Tipton AJ. Synthetic biodegradable polymers as orthopaedic biomaterials. Biomaterials. 2000;21:2335–2346. doi: 10.1016/S0142-9612(00)00101-0.

16. Khan MUA, Abd Razak SI, Mohamed Ansari MN, Mohamed Zulkifli R, Ahmad Zawawi N, Arshad M. Development of biodegradable bio-based composite for bone tissue engineering: Synthesis, characterization and in vitro biocompatible evaluation. Polym (Basel). 2021;13:3611. doi: 10.3390/polym13213611.

17. Senra MR, Marques MFV, Monteiro SN. Poly(ether-ether-ketone) for biomedical applications: From enhancing bioactivity to reinforced-bioactive composites—an overview. Polym (Basel). 2023;15:373. doi: 10.3390/polym15020373.

18. Asghari F, Samiei M, Adibkia K, Akbarzadeh A, Davaran S. Biodegradable and biocompatible polymers for tissue engineering application: A review. Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol. 2016;45(2):185–192. doi: 10.3109/21691401.2016.1146731.

19. Szymczyk P, Labowska MB, Detyna J, Michalak I, Gruber P. A review of fabrication polymer scaffolds for biomedical applications using additive manufacturing techniques. Biocybern Biomed Eng. 2020;40:1–15. doi: 10.1016/j.bbe.2020.01.015.

20. Hasan A, Morshed M, Memic A, Hassan S, Webster TJ, Marei HE. Nanoparticles in tissue engineering: Applications, challenges and prospects. Int J Nanomedicine. 2018;13:5637–5655. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S153758.

21. Pupilli F, Ruffini A, Dapporto M, Tavoni M, Tampieri A, Sprio S. Design strategies and biomimetic approaches for calcium phosphate scaffolds in bone tissue regeneration. Biomimetics (Basel). 2022;7(3):112. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics7030112.

22. Imre B, Pukánszky B. Compatibilization in bio-based and biodegradable polymer blends. Eur Polym J. 2013;49(6):1215–1233. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2013.01.019.

23. Liu W, Zu L, Wang S, Li J, Fei X, Geng M, et al. Tailored biomedical materials for wound healing. Burns Trauma. 2023;11:1–19. doi: 10.1093/burnst/tkad040.

24. Yu JJ, Park SA, Kim WD, Ha T, Xin YZ, Lee J, et al. Current advances in 3D bioprinting technology and its applications for tissue engineering. Polym (Basel). 2020;12(12):2958. doi: 10.3390/polym12122958.