Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics – An electroactive material that provides electrical stimulation cues for bone regeneration

Experimental evidence shows that natural bone is piezoelectric, and bioelectric phenomena in natural bone play an essential role in bone development and bone defect repair. Piezoelectric ceramics can deform with physiological movements and consequently deliver electrical stimulation to cells or damaged tissue without the need for an external power source. They exhibit piezoelectricity and good biological properties similar to those of natural bone and have shown great potential in bone tissue engineering. This study aims to present an overview of the relationship between electrical stimulation and bone repair as well as the principle of the piezoelectric effect, emphasizing the material characteristics, research progress and application of piezoelectric ceramics in bone tissue regeneration. The limitations of piezoelectric ceramics in promoting osteogenesis by electrical stimulation were also analysed. Overall, this review comprehensively emphasized the essential characteristics of piezoelectric ceramics and pointed out the new direction for the future development of piezoelectric ceramics.