Marine Derived Biomaterials for Bone Regeneration and Tissue Engineering: Learning from Nature

Marine structures, biogenic materials, and biomimetic approaches applied to the fabrication of advanced biomaterials and implants are used to address the shortcomings of existing scaffold designs that are biologically un-responsive throughout the regeneration process and lack necessary versatility. Bioactive ceramics converted from biostructures or natural marine-based materials such as corals, sea urchin, sponges and shells are being designed into functional scaffolds that can adapt and evolve to changing environment during regeneration process. They can regulate cell responses at nanostructured surfaces, and as modules for self-assembling by the patient’s own cells and as smart devices that possess tissue specific homing capabilities. These natural structures can be converted to bioactive ceramics such as hydroxyapatite to assist osseointegration. This chapter covers biomimicry, evolution of marine structures, and their specific use and current research on natural materials such as coral, sponge, sea urchin, sponge nacre, and foraminifera as models and raw materials for bioactive bone scaffolding materials and tissue engineering.