ABSTRACT
Calcium-based biomaterials have been extensively studied for bone tissue repair and regeneration. Bone is mainly made up of calcium phosphate, collagen, and noncollagenous protein, which gives structural support and influences body metabolism. Collagenous and noncollagenous materials play an essential role in osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties in the process of bone tissue repair. Finding out the alternative organic portion biomaterials is an emerging area of research in the construction of artificial bone. Polymeric biomaterials play an essential role in preparing artificial bone by providing the extracellular matrix and delivering growth factors for bone tissue regeneration. Both synthetic and natural-based polymeric biomaterials have been extensively studied for bone tissue engineering. One of the natural polymers is alginate, and its derivatives have gained much attention in bone tissue engineering due to its pore-forming ability, water-holding capacity, and biocompatible and biodegradable properties. Polymeric biomaterials with ceramics materials have been studied to mimic the natural function of bone. This chapter discusses the polymeric (natural and synthetic) biomaterials preparation, characterization, and biological applications toward bone tissue engineering.
