Abstract

Evidence of clinical needs related to bone reconstruction dates back to ancient Egypt. A more rigorous scientific approach has been followed since 1889, when “modern” scientists started to focus their efforts on what can be defined as the early bone tissue engineering [1]. Nature here provides the key inspiration to new generation devices, where a composite approach is taking the lead by the smart combination of bio and nano-technologies to replicate the intimate bone structure. The goal of a new approach is hence to combine the biocompatibility and tissue integration of natural materials with the possibility to tune mechanical and physical properties typical of synthetic ones: composite grafts best mimic the real nature of healthy human bone, being rigid and elastic, compact but porous, dense but viable to cells and vessels [2].