Table 1.

Biomaterials classification with their advantages, disadvantages and applications

Type	Advantages	Disadvantages	Applications	References
Metals and metal alloys	High material strength	Corrosive	Orthopaedic implants, screws, pins, and plates	Zhao et al. (2011)
For example, gold, platinum, titanium, steel, chromium, cobalt	Easy to fabricate and sterilise	Aseptic loosening
		Excessive elastic modulus
Ceramics and carbon compounds	High material strength	Difficult to mould	Bioactive orthopaedic implants	Zhao et al. (2011)
For example, calcium phosphate salts, glass, oxides of aluminium and titanium	Biocompatibility	Excessive elastic modulus	Dental implants
	Corrosion resistance		Artificial hearing aids
Polymers	Biodegradable	Leachable in body fluids	Orthopaedic and dental implants	Tappa and Jammalamadaka (2018)
	Biocompatible	Hard to sterilise	Prostheses
	Easily mouldable and readily available		Tissue engineering scaffolds
For example, poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycaprolactone (PCL), PLA, PEEK, polycarbonates, polyurethanes	Suitable mechanical strength		Drug delivery systems
Composites	Excellent mechanical properties	Expensive	Porous orthopaedic implants	Chandra and Pandey (2020)
For example, dental filling composites, carbon fibre-reinforced methyl methacrylate bone cement + ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene	Corrosive resistant	Laborious manufacturing methods	Dental fillings
			Rubber catheters and gloves