Review: Silicon oxycarbide based materials for biomedical applications

Silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) based materials are of interest due to their unique properties, including high-temperature resistance, mechanical strength, chemical durability and corrosion resistance. The versatility of the silicon oxycarbide chemistry allows the modification of properties for different fields. In the last decade, attention has been paid to the potential use of SiOC materials in biomedical applications. Surface functionalization of SiOC is a promising approach to create efficient and controllable drug delivery systems with adequate molecule adsorption and release kinetics. The analysis of the literature reveals that silicon oxycarbides have also potential applications as protective biocompatible coatings, for example in blood-contact devices. Additionally, by incorporating metallic ions (i.e. Ca2+, Mg2+, Ag+) in the material network structure, promising antibacterial properties and bioactive behavior have been observed despite the high network connectivity values compared to silicate bioactive glasses. This review covers studies which have reported the use of silicon oxycarbide based materials for biomedical applications. Advances in the evaluation of biocompatibility, bioactivity, surface functionalization and antibacterial effects are discussed in detail, highlighting advantages and limitations of SiOC systems in the biomedical field.