Novel biomedical materials based on glasses

Some bioactive glasses and glass-ceramics have occupied important positions in bone-repairing materials. Fundamental studies on their bone-bonding mechanism indicate that Si-OH and Ti-OH group on their surfaces induce the nucleation of bonelike apatite which is resposible for bonding to living bone. These findings provide us techniques for forming the biologically active bonelike apatite even on metals and organic polymers. A bioactive composite cement also can be derived from bioactive glass-ceramics. Ferrimagnetic crystals-containing glass-ceramics are useful as thermoseeds for hyperthermia treatment of cancers. Chemically durable glasses containing Y or P at high level can play an important role in radiotherapy of cancers.