Biologically functional ceramic materials have been known about for several decades, like phosphate cements and gypsum, and they are within the zeroth generation. Modern and artificially synthesized bioceramics include amorphous materials in the Bioglass(R) family that were developed in the early 1970's and derivative glass ceramics such as Bioverit(R) and Cerabone A-W(R) that came in 1980's. They are from the 2nd generation of materials, and mostly applicable to bone replacement or bone defect fillers. Since the late 1990's, newer technologies have been introduced to the biologically functional material fields; they are the syntheses of organic-inorganic hybrids of micro- and macroscopic scales as well as nano-scales, organic fragment-covered ceramic particles of varied sizes, with light-controlling abilities to modify the frequency of light, in addition synthesis of high strength and high-tribological durability that had not been available before. With the advent of additive manufacturing technology employing lasers, electron beams, and printers, clinical materials of complicated porous structures are now easily prepared. These materials are of the 3rd generation.
This book will cover almost all kinds of such 3rd generation ceramic and ceramic-related biomaterials. This book conveys the current state-of-the-art on the science and technology of bioceramics, from nano-size dots or particles to macro-scale architectures, of a wide range of constitutions including quantum dots with peptide fragments, meso-scale therapeutic particles designed to involve drugs or genes, mesoporous organic-inorganic hybrids, nano-structured oxide layers on metals and alloys.
Narayan, Roger: - Dr. Roger Narayan is a Professor in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University. He is an author of more than 100 publications as well as several book chapters on nanostructured biomedical materials. Dr. Narayan has received several honors for his research activities, including the NCSU Alcoa Foundation Engineering Research Achievement Award, the NCSU Sigma Xi Faculty Research Award, the University of North Carolina Jefferson-Pilot Fellowship in Academic Medicine, the University of North Carolina Junior Faculty Development Award, the National Science Faculty Early Career Development Award, the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, and the American Ceramic Society Richard M. Fulrath Award. He has been elected as Fellow of the American Ceramic Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering, and ASM International.
Osaka, Akiyoshi: - Dr. Akiyoshi Osaka is a Project Professor and Professor Emeritus of Okayama University, Japan, associated with Faculty of Engineering, and also affiliated with the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, PR China, as a Distinguished Professor under the 1000 Talents Plan. He earned B.E. from Okayama University, and M.E. and PhD from Kyoto University. His research area extends from glass and glass ceramics in borates, phosphates, silicates, tellurites, borosilicates, or borophosphates, and to the sol-gel preparation of oxides and organic-inorganic hybrids as well as their biomedical applications. He is an author of over 250 publications and over 10 book chapters. Dr. Osaka was awarded for his achievements with Excellent Ceramic Scientist Award from the Ceramic Society of Japan 1994. He has been elected as Fellow of the Ceramic Society of Japan.
