Metal semiconductor materials in bone diseases: properties, applications, and future perspectives

The objective of bone tissue engineering is to develop innovative biomaterials and stimulation strategies to promote bone regeneration. Bioelectric materials play a crucial role in this domain owing to their inspiration of the inherent piezoelectric properties of bone. This review explores the progress made in utilizing metal semiconductor materials for bone tissue engineering, focusing on their operating mechanisms, various material classifications, and the ways they foster bone regeneration. First, the working principles of metal semiconductor materials are discussed, with an emphasis on the importance of bioelectric phenomena in regulating cell behavior. Owing to their roles in mimicking the electrophysiological microenvironment to promote bone regeneration, we highlight various types of metal semiconductor materials, such as metallic semiconductor materials, piezoelectric materials, and conductive biomaterials. Personalized and specific materials, including conductive smart scaffolds, modified implant surfaces, and those that target bone tissues, promote osseointegration and exert antibacterial properties, serving diverse applications in bone tissue engineering. Additionally, to improve implant biocompatibility and osseointegration, the use of metal semiconductor materials in the design of orthopedic implants has shown promising clinical application prospects. Finally, looking forward to the future applications of metal semiconductor materials in bone engineering, integrating multiple functions, personalized medicine, and biodegradable materials, as well as the application of nanotechnology and 3D printing techniques, may arise to satisfy clinical requirements. This review also presents the biological characteristics of metal semiconductor materials and their recent applications in treating bone diseases, while also discussing innovative concepts for their design and development.