Composite biopolymers for bone regeneration enhancement in bony defects.

For the past century, various biomaterials have been used in the treatment of bone defects and fractures. Their role as potential substitutes for human bone grafts increases as donors become scarce. Metals, ceramics and polymers are all materials that confer different advantages to bone scaffold development. For instance, biocompatibility is a highly desirable property for which naturally-derived polymers are renowned. While generally applied separately, the use of biomaterials, in particular natural polymers, is likely to change, as biomaterial research moves towards mixing different types of materials in order to maximize their individual strengths. This review focuses on osteoconductive biocomposite scaffolds which are constructed around natural polymers and their performance at the in vitro/in vivo stages and in clinical trials.