Sol-gel production of bioactive nanocoatings for medical applications. Part II: current research and development.

Over the years, the use of hydroxyapatite as coatings for medical devices and drug-delivery systems has gone through a revolution - from being a rarity to being an absolute necessity. Without these coatings, many medical implants and devices would never reach their true potential in their intended applications, such as in the dental and orthopedic fields. Coatings of hydroxyapatite are often applied to metallic implants to alter their surface properties. The aim of this article is to present an evaluation of the published work regarding current research and applications and to review the methods used for the production of hydroxyapatite nanocoatings.