Biomaterials: a forecast for the future.

The survivability half-life of prostheses made with current bio-inert materials is approximately 15 years, depending upon clinical applications. Bioactive materials improve device lifetime but have mechanical limitations. This paper proposes that biomaterials research needs to focus on regeneration of tissues instead of replacement. Alternatives are: use hierarchical bioactive scaffolds to engineer in vitro living cellular constructs for transplantation, or use resorbable bioactive particulates or porous networks to activate in vivo the mechanisms of tissue regeneration.