Bio-Inspired Regenerative Medicine: Materials, Processes, and Clinical Applications

This book presents a wide and interdisciplinary overview of the current state of the art in the development of biomimetic materials for tissue regeneration on the basis of relevant and high-impact clinical needs. It specifically emphasizes the regeneration of bone, cartilage, and osteochondral tissues as well as soft tissues such as nerves, heart, and endocrine organs. It brings together contributions from materials scientists, biologists, and surgeons with globally recognized experience in the field of regenerative medicine.

The aim of the book is to highlight the relevance of biomimetics as an elective approach for the development of new scaffolds that can direct regenerative cascade by means of chemico-physical and topological nano-cues presented to cells and biologic tissues. Particularly, the book refers to emerging concepts in synthesis processes and scaffolds inspired by nature as well as to novel approaches for smart functionalization such as the use of magnetic signaling.

Simone Sprio is a researcher at the Department of Bio-ceramics and Bio-hybrid Composites for Regenerative Medicine, CNR―Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics, since 1997. He is active in the field of research and development of new ceramic-based biomaterials and devices for bone regeneration in orthopedics and spinal, maxillofacial, and neurosurgery.

Anna Tampieri is director of CNR―Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics, Italy, and head of the Department of Bio-ceramics and Bio-hybrid Composites for Regenerative Medicine since 1985. She is the coordinator of several European projects and scientific advisor to several companies active in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Dr. Tampieri is also the organizer of several international conferences and symposia on biomaterials.