Tantalum Based Materials for Implants and Prostheses Applications

Abstract

The performance of biomaterials in biological systems is of critical importance for the development of biomedical implants and tissue engineering. Using a coating (thin film) as the interface between the bulk material and the biologic environment is one of the solutions which can potentially lead to better bioresponse, improved mechanical characteristics and lower overall cost, compared to the same material as the coating, but used in bulk form. In this paper, an overview on tantalum based biomaterials will be presented, both in bulk and coating form, with emphasis on the advantages or drawbacks reported for the particular type of material.