Metal-polymer Hybrid Biomaterials with High Mechanical and Biological Compatibilities

Metals are widely used for biomédical applications owing to their reliable mechanical properties and acceptable biocompatibilities. However, the Young's moduli of metals are higher than that of bone, leading to harmful stress-shielding effect. Furthermore, metals do not exhibit intrinsically any biofunction. Therefore, both further lowering Young's modulus and imparting biofunction are hopefully required for metallic biomédical applications. On the basis of these requirements, we have developed novel materials, porous titanium filled with medical polymer, for biomédical applications. This book chapter reviews our fabrication methods and the mechanical and biological properties of porous titanium filled with medical polymer.