Synthetic composites versus calcium phosphate cements in bone regeneration: A narrative review

Background: When the natural process of bone remodeling is disturbed, the need arises for a stimulant material in order to enhance the formation of a new healthy and strong osseous tissue to replace the damaged one. Recent studies have reported synthetic biomaterials to be a very good option for supporting bone regeneration. Study design: Narrative review. Objective: This review aims to provide a brief presentation of two of the most recently developed synthetic biomaterials, i.e. calcium phosphate cements and synthetic composites, that are currently being used in bone regeneration with promising results. Methods: Literature searches using broad terms such as "bone regeneration," "biomaterials," "synthetic composites" and "calcium phosphate cements" were performed using PubMed. The osteal cells state of the art was explored by searching topic-specific full text keywords using Google Scholar. Conclusions: Synthetic polymers such as PCL (poly-epsilon-caprolactone) and PLGA (poly lactic-co-glycolic acid) can improve the effectiveness of biomaterials like HA (hydroxyapatite) and BG (bioglass). Calcium phosphate, although being a suitable material for stimulating bone regeneration, needs an adjuvant in order to be effective in larger bone defects.