Advances in techniques and technologies for bone implants

Materials which can augment and repair the function of damaged bone are required. Metals, ceramics and plastics have been widely used as artificial bone implants, although their material properties are not optimally matched to those of the native bone tissue. New materials, and methods of production, are being extensively investigated to overcome the limitations of the current implants. In this review, we give an oversight into the current materials used and their limitations followed by an analysis of the new types of materials and techniques which are under development. The groups of materials covered specifically include new metals and metal alloys which are potentially more biocompatible, porous metal foams which mimic the structure of spongy bone and advanced composites which incorporate the properties of multiple materials within one implant. The use of additive manufacturing techniques is also discussed as these techniques allow for the tailoring of the physical properties of the implant and the production of customisable implants.