An Overview on Recent progresses and future perspective of biomaterials

Over the past many decades, tremendous advances in the field of bio materials have been made. Many of the human tissues, such as bones, teeth, tendons, ligaments and other load bearing implants replacement in the human body are carried out successfully with the help of biomaterials. At present, essential concerns in the field of biomaterials are still to be met. The present demand for lifelong implants and bone replacement is characterized by biocompatibility, bioactivity, and mechanical properties of biomaterials, without the immune rejection shows a great challenge. Presently stainless steel, titanium alloys, Co-Cr alloys, zirconia, alumina, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, Poly methyl methacrylate etc. are some of the biomaterials that satisfy the requirements of physical and chemical properties, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility for biomedical applications. Significant progress has been made to improve the function of artificial joints, but currently the major efforts has been devoted to minimizing the wear and to increase the lifespan of the implants or prosthesis during its functionality in the human body. In this review, the evolution of different metals/ceramics and polymers that are most commonly used in biomedical applications has been discussed along with the different approaches used to fulfil the challenges faced by medical field. (paper)