Nanotechnology brings a variety of new high surface area biocompatible nanomaterials
that can be used for bone repair and cavity fillers.

High strength nanoceramic materials, such as calcium phosphate apatite (CPA) and
hydroxyapatite (HAP), can be made into a flowable, moldable nanoparticle paste that can
conform to and interdigitate with bone. As natural bone is approximately 70% by weight
CPA including hydroxyapatite (HAP), biocompatibility is thought to be extremely high
with minimal side effects.

As its dense surface and tight three dimensional crystalline structure will allow for a
superior compressive strength to PMMA, nanoceramics may be suitable for both weight
bearing and non-weight bearing bones. Nanoceramics such as CPA is nanocrystalline and
can have grain size of under 50nm. Its nanocrystals can be connected to each other to
form connective hard tissue required for bones.

Bone cement material being developed at the University of South Carolina and
Competitive Technologies, can harden in vivo and in the presence of serum, form a solid
bone-like structure capable of stabilizing a fractured bone or used as a bone substitute.