Functional Coatings for Bone Tissue Engineering

Abstract

This chapter outlines the application of coatings for implants and/or scaffolds used for bone tissue engineering (TE). Previously orthopaedic implants and/or scaffolds were designed considering mainly their mechanical aspects. However, due to the criticality of osteointegration with the surrounding tissues after implanting, the biological aspects of implants and/or scaffolds are becoming crucial. Recent trend is to use functional coatings like anti-infective, Ca-P and biomolecules coatings onto implants and/or scaffolds to improve anti-infective, osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties, respectively; thereby improving the osteointegration of the implant and/or scaffold with the surrounding tissue. Here, the application of different types of coatings on implants and/or scaffolds for bone TE will be described. The use of coatings as a drug and gene delivery carrier will also be covered in brief. As many of the coatings are still in preclinical testing stage, challenges associated with successful clinical use will be discussed as well.