ABSTRACT
Bioceramics such as cements and silica-based glasses as well as calcium phosphate ceramics are commonly utilized as implant components for bone and tooth replacement. Drugs can now be incorporated within them or on their functionalized surfaces, thanks to enhanced processing techniques and innovative chemical approaches. Bioceramics can be used to treat major bone infections, bone tumors, bone defects, and osteoporotic fractures by acting as local drug-delivery systems. Template glasses, star gels, and organic-inorganic hybrids have shown potential for usage as bone graft substitute materials, while macroporous bioceramics with several microns pore sizes work well as tissue engineering scaffolds. The invention of innovative mesoporous nanoceramics that can be leveraged as drug-delivery systems has also created new treatment options for cancer and other diseases. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles can be created as carriers for delivering drugs to malignant cells. Stimuli-responsive systems can be created by closing pores with molecular nanogates, allowing drug delivery to be controlled by external stimuli such as ultrasound, light, or magnetic fields. The creation of innovative, cutting-edge multifunctional materials for a wide spectrum of biotechnological applications has been sparked by the MSNs’ exceptional qualities for biomedical applications. The most recent advances in biological research employing MSNs may serve as some of the pillars for highly selective, tailored therapies, and diagnostic procedures in the future. In this way, the development of nanoparticles capable of establishing close relationships with the biological world is made feasible by the ongoing developments in nanotechnology, including fabrication and characterization methodologies. This chapter reviews the recent developments in bioceramic drug-delivery techniques and nanoceramics designed for precise and controlled drug release and provides future directions to reach clinical applications.
