Current Challenges and Future Needs in Biomaterials and Devices for Bone Disorders

Abstract We wanted to write this short final chapter on current challenges and future needs in biomaterials and devices for bone disorders based on our perspective after working in the field for over 15 years. Our idea is not to repeat topics that have already been covered in the book with significant details, but to reiterate some of the most important challenges in the biomaterials research toward bone disorders. As indicated before, the biomaterials field is very dynamic, interdisciplinary, and almost every day some forms of new discoveries are being made by researchers around the world. During the past three decades, interest in biomaterials has grown at a very rapid rate to solve a variety of clinical challenges. Unlike Chapter 1, Introduction to Biomaterials and Devices for Bone Disorders, in which we have briefly discussed mature areas of biomaterials, in this chapter we have outlined some of the areas where future developments are likely to happen to reduce healing time and enhance patient comfort. We hope that this chapter helps readers to understand various long-standing issues in bone disorders that are still waiting to be solved, and instigate new ideas for the next generations of devices and treatment options.