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Homologues and xenogenous bones are currently the most used grafts in dentistry because of their performance. However, some inherent disadvantages of these materials have not yet been overcome, such as the lack of biological properties to improve the new bone formation in situ and the long remodeling time. The main aim of this work was to improve the performance of the commercial bone-based grafts and study its properties in vitro. For this purpose, rat bone was combined with bioglass, a synthetic biomaterial that displays high degradation kinetics and bioactivity properties, endowed with biological properties. The sol-gel method was used for 45S5 bioglass (45S5) synthesis, using TEOS and water soluble salts as starting materials. 45S5 was then associated with the rat bone, generating the new graft. FTIR results indicated the hydroxyapatite formation after the bioactivity tests. SEM and bioactivity results were used to assess the evolution of the graft. The bioactivity tests showed that after 30 days the mass gain of about 30 wt.% was due to the deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals at the surface of the grafts, suggesting the potential properties of this new graft for application in implantology.

Polymers from renewable resources have been used for a long time in biomedical applications and found an irreplaceable role in some of them. Their uses have been increasing because of their attractive properties, contributing to the improvement of life quality, mainly in drug release systems and in regenerative medicine. Formulations using natural polymer, nano and microscale particles preparation, composites, blends and chemical modification strategies have been used to improve their properties for clinical application. Although many studies have been carried out with these natural polymers, the way to reach the market is long and only very few of them become commercially available. Vegetable cellulose, bacterial cellulose, chitosan, poly(lactic acid) and starch can be found among the most studied polymers for biological applications, some with several derivatives already established in the market, and others with potential for such. In this scenario this work aims to describe the properties and potential of these renewable polymers for biomedical applications, the routes from the bench to the market, and the perspectives for future developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]