Editorial : materials science of bioceramic coatings: an editorial.

Presently, the development of novel ceramic materials with improved biomedical functions is at the forefront of health-related issues in many countries. Arguably, research into bioceramics including coatings for endoprosthetic implants has reached a level of involvement and sophistication comparable only to developments ongoing in the realm of electronic ceramics [1]. Despite the fact that calcium phosphate-based coatings deposited on hip, knee and dental implants as well as bone screws and osteosynthetic devices have an impressive history of clinical success, the quest for improving the longevity of implants and to impart them with better physiological properties is high up on the agenda of numerous research groups around the world. The contributions in this topical issue of The Open Biomedical Engineering Journal attest to these developments.