Orthopedical Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is considered to be a very promising platform for biomedical applications. Most recently, this modern technology has brought innovation in the field of nanomedicine, particularly within orthopedics. Various kinds of nanotechnology-based biomaterials with novel physical, chemical, and biological properties have been applied in orthopedics to improve the way of diagnosis and treatment. In this chapter, nanotechnology-based biomaterials that used within the field of orthopedics, including metallic nanomaterials, nonmetallic nanomaterials, are briefly introduced. We further summaries the biomedical applications of nanotechnology-based biomaterials in terms of bone/cartilage tissue engineering for scaffolds preparation, surface modifications for implantable materials with enhanced osteointegration properties, diagnosis and therapeutics for oncology and musculoskeletal infections, and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems in orthopedics. Although nanotechnology has revolutionized the diagnosis of and treatment for orthopedics, there are still some future obstacles that have been discussed that extensive clinical safety investigations should be further performed to verify their long-term effects on human health.