@article {18263, title = {Bioinert, biodegradable and injectable polymeric matrix composites for hard tissue replacement: state of the art and recent developments}, journal = {Composites Science and Technology}, volume = {64}, year = {2004}, month = {2004-09-01 00:00:00}, pages = {789{\textendash}817}, abstract = {

The present review paper examines the use of different types of polymeric matrix composites in hard tissue replacement applica- tions.Thereviewpresentstheactualstateoftheartinthefieldsofbioinertcompositesforpermanentapplications,biodegradable matrixcompositesfortemporaryapplicationsandtheemergingareaofinjectablecomposites.Inallcasessomerecentdevelop- mentsarealsodiscussed.Thepaperstartswithanintroductiontolocatethereader.Bone{\textendash}analoguecompositesarethenextensively discussed.Severalothersystemsbasedonaninertpolymericmatrixaredescribed,focusingontheirproposedapplications.Agreat emphasisisafterwardsgiventobiodegradablematrixsystems.Themostwidelyusedsyntheticbioresorbablesystemsareanalysed andcomparedwithanexampleofnaturalorigindegradablecomposites{\textendash}starchbasedcomposites.Finally,compositesystemsthat are non-processable by melt based routes and in many cases injectable are discussed in detail, including several recent developments on this emerging area of research.

}, keywords = {Biomaterials, Injection moulding, Mechanicalproperties, Microstructure, Polymer matrix composites}, author = {Mano, J. F. and Sousa, N. and Boesel, L. F. and Neves, N. M. and Reis, R. L.} }