Preface to The Special Issue on 'Recent Advances in Processing, Analysis, Function, and Application of Phosphates and The Related Biomaterials'

摘要

Because of being the main constituent element in living bodies of plants and animals, inorganic phosphate compounds have been and will be one of the key materials in our daily lives. Almost half a century has passed and the development has been remarkable since the discovery of biomedical applications of inorganic phosphate materials. The use of tissue engineering, however, is enormously increasing as a recent trend in the study of regenerative medicne. The role of biomaterials is still indispensable, because massive tissues and organs such as bones are still difficult to be repaired without artificial materials. The studies of phosphates based-bioceramics have constantly progressed for the decades, and the resultant products are available for the surrounding sciences and technologies as well as biomedicine and dentistry. Considering such circumstances, we are urged to present the recent development of phosphates-based bioceramic science and technology including the issues in clinical applications and fundamental chemistry and physics.