There are many kinds of materials with different applications. In this context, biomaterials stand out because of their ability to remain in contact with tissues of the human body. Biomaterials comprise an exciting field that has been significantly and steadily developed over the last fifty years and encompasses aspects of medicine, biology, chemistry, and materials science. Biomaterials have been used for several applications, such as joint replacements, bone plates, bone cement, artificial ligaments and tendons, dental implants for tooth fixation, blood vessel prostheses, heart valves, artificial tissue, contact lenses, and breast implants. In the future, biomaterials are expected to enhance the regeneration of natural tissues, thereby promoting the restoration of structural, functional, metabolic and biochemical behaviour as well as biomechanical performance.

The design of novel, inexpensive, biocompatible materials is crucial to the improvement of the living conditions and welfare of the population in view of the increasing number of people who need implants. In this sense, it is necessary that the processes employed for biomaterials production are affordable, fast, and simple to carry out. Several methodologies have been utilized for the preparation of new bioactive, biocompatible materials with osteoconductivity, and osteoinductivity. New biomaterials have been introduced since 1971. One example is Bioglass 45S5, which is able to bind to the bone through formation of a hydroxyapatite surface layer. The sol-gel processes are now used to produce bioactive coatings, powders, and substrates that offer molecular control over the incorporation and biological behavior of proteins and cells and can be applied as implants and sensors. In the literature there are several works on the use of the sol-gel process for production of biomaterials such as nanobioactive glass, porous bioactive glass, and bioactive glass, among others. Hybrid inorganic-organic nanocomposites first appeared about 20 years ago.

The sol-gel process was the technique whose conditions proved suitable for preparation of these materials and which provided nanoscale combinations of inorganic and organic composites. Natural bone is an inorganic-organic composite consisting mainly of Nano hydroxyapatite and collagen fibers. Hybrid materials obtained by the sol-gel route combine the advantages of both organic and inorganic properties. Several kinds of organofunctional alkoxysilanes precursors have been studied for the production of silica nanoparticles. The sol-gel offers advantages such as the possibility of obtaining homogeneous hybrid materials under low temperature, thereby allowing for the incorporation of a variety of compounds. The sol-gel process is based on the hydrolysis and condensation of metal or silicon alkoxides and is used to obtain a variety of high-purity inorganic oxides or hybrid inorganic-organic materials that are simple to prepare.

This process can be employed for the synthesis of functionalized silica with controlled particle size and shape. Apart from the several applications mentioned in the first paragraph of this chapter, more recently, biomaterials have been utilized as drug delivery systems (DDSs). In this sense, polymers and biodegradable polymers emerge as potential materials, since they promote temporal and targeted drug release. Indeed, biomaterials have had an enormous impact on human health care. Applications include medical devices, diagnosis, sensors, tissue engineering, besides the aforementioned DDSs.

Thanks & Regards,
Nicola B
Editorial Team
Journal of Biochemistry & Biotechnology