Antimicrobial Bioceramics for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Bioceramics are ideal for hard tissue repair because they are akin to the bone in mechanical and physical properties. The main application of bioceramics is in orthopedics. Orthopedic implants can fail prematurely, mainly due to bacterial colonization and ongoing biofilm formation on implant surfaces. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small bioactive proteins with unique physicochemical and structural properties, ubiquitous component of the innate immune system, where they play an essential role in modulating both innate and adaptive immune responses. The chapter reviews the fundamental concepts of the design and synthesis of AMPs to functionalize bioceramic coatings, scaffolds, composites and (nano)particles for short- and long-term antibacterial activity.