The Role of the Sol-Gel Synthesis Process in the Biomedical Field and Its Use to Enhance the Performance of Bioabsorbable Magnesium Implants

Abstract

In the present day, the increment in life expectancy has led to the necessity of developing new biomaterials for the restoration or substitution of damaged organs that have lost their functionalities. Among all the research about biomaterials, this review paper aimed to expose the main possibilities that the sol-gel synthesis method can provide for the fabrication of materials with interest in the biomedical field, more specifically, when this synthesis method is used to improve the biological properties of different magnesium alloys used as biomaterials. The sol-gel method has been widely studied and used to generate ceramic materials for a wide range of purposes during the last fifty years. Focused on biomedical research, the sol-gel synthesis method allows the generation of different kinds of biomaterials with diverse morphologies and a high potential for the biocompatibility improvement of a wide range of materials commonly used in the biomedical field such as metallic implants, as well as for the generation of drug delivery systems or interesting biomaterials for new tissue engineering therapies.

Biodegradable Polymers in Biomedical Applications: A Review—Developments, Perspectives and Future Challenges

“…The method is widely used in biomedical applications related to the synthesis of inorganic blends and polymers. Sol-gel technology involves the transition of a liquid colloidal solution into a compact threedimensional structure; in short, a gel is obtained from a sol [63][64][65]. Ghedini et al [66] developed a system for the controlled release of a drug in the form of antibiotics using the sol-gel method.…”

Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Materials Prepared by Sol–Gel and Sol–Gel-Coating Method for Biomedical Use: Study and Synthetic Review of Synthesis and Properties

“…Research on sol-gel biomaterials is always changing, and there are many exciting potential uses in medicine and health. They are especially intriguing for the difficulties and requirements in the biomedical industry because of their capacity to be customized for certain uses [128].…”

Organic-inorganic biohybrid films from wool-keratin/jellyfish-collagen/silica/boron via sol-gel reactions for soft tissue engineering applications

“…With the globally increasing healthy life expectancy and human longevity, developing new materials to treat age-related diseases and repair lost or damaged tissues and organs has become necessary [1]. Developed biomaterials must have mechanical (stiffness, elastic modulus, etc) physicochemical (surface chemistry, porosity, biodegradation, etc) and biological properties (cell adhesion, vascularization, biocompatibility, etc) to reconstruct different anatomical defects of complex organs and functional tissues [2].…”