The Application of Bioactive Materials in Bone Repair

Biological activity, in the field of materials, mainly refers to the properties that can induce special biological and chemical reactions at the interface between materials and biological tissues, forming chemical bonds between materials and biological tissues. A bioactive material is a biomaterial that is able to participate in a regenerative process at the molecular level and dictate molecular and cellular events in a preferred and predictable way. In the process of biomineralization, the ability of biological material to chemically bond with living bone is an important index of the biomaterial, and the biological activity of the material in vivo is reflected by the simulated body fluid-SBF ability of apatite formed on the surface of the material. In the field of bone repair, bioactive materials such as hydrogels, agglomerates, and magnetic nanoparticles are playing an increasingly important role. Compared with traditional bone repair materials, bioactive materials have many advantages, such as high biocompatibility, simulation of the extracellular environment, and easy engineering modification. In addition, as a delivery system, bioactive materials are modified and engineered to be minimally invasive, targeted, and sustainably released. The above characteristics have important application value in the field of bone repair.

This Research Topic aims to promote the use of bioactive materials in bone repair and recruit bioactive materials at the forefront of bone repair research. Here we discuss the properties and characterization of different kinds of bioactive materials. These materials mainly include 1) bioactive materials for the molecular mechanism of bone repair; 2) bioactive materials for targeted drug delivery systems; 3) bioactive materials for injection or microneedles. The establishment of this Research Topic hopes to further promote the interdisciplinary interaction between medicine and industry, as well as to promote the clinical transformation and application of new biological materials.

In this Research Topic, we welcome researchers to submit perspectives, original articles, reviews, comments, case reports, and letters on the topic, including but not limited to the following topics:
• new ways of preparing materials related to bone repair
• advanced research on characterization, detection, and engineering modification of bioactive materials for bone repair
• research on bioactive materials for bone repair through molecular mechanisms
• research on bioactive materials for different interventions in bone repair
• to summarize the current status of the application of bioactive materials in bone repair