Applications for Sol-Gel-Derived Materials in Medicine and Biology

Sol-gel chemistry provides a novel production route for ceramics and composites that have a variety of applications in medicine, biology, and biochemistry. Advantages of sol-gel-derived materials in these applications include simple, low temperature production routes that are capable of achieving temperature, chemical, and radiation-inert porous materials with a wide range of structural and microstructural properties. Furthermore, sol-gel-derived materials display remarkable compatibility with biomacromolecules and are conveniently functionalized with a variety of coupling agents. The properties of these materials and their present and potential applications in medicine and biology are reviewed.