Bioceramics for drug delivery

Bioceramics, such as calcium phosphate ceramics and cements and silica-based glasses, are widely used as components of implants for bone and teeth restoration. Nowadays, the advanced processing methods and new chemical strategies allow the incorporation of drugs within them or on their functionalized surfaces. In this regard, bioceramics act as local drug delivery systems to treat large bone defects, osteoporotic fractures, bone infections and bone tumours. The development of new mesoporous nanoceramics, suitable to be used as carriers for drug delivery, has also opened new perspectives for cancer therapies. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles can be prepared as vehicles able to release the drug within specific cancerous cells. When the pores are closed with molecular nanogates, stimuli-responsive systems can be obtained, thus allowing drug release at will by supplying external stimuli such as magnetic fields, ultrasound or light. The present review looks at the advances in the bioceramic drug delivery systems, as well as those nanoceramics intended for specific and controlled drug release. (C) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.