Applications and Research Progress of Biomaterials for Treating Infected Bone Defects

Infected bone defects represent a challenging clinical condition that requires simultaneous infection control and bone structure reconstruction. Traditional antibiotic therapy and bone grafting each have inherent limitations. With advances in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, biomaterials have garnered increasing attention in this field. This review systematically summarizes the research progress of inorganic biomaterials, polymeric biomaterials, and composite biomaterials in the repair of infected bone defects, covering their antibacterial mechanisms, osteogenic properties, and functional integration strategies. The clinical applications of these materials as adjuncts to established surgical techniques, including the induced membrane technique and bone transport, are also reviewed. Current challenges and future directions, including intelligent responsive materials and immunomodulatory strategies, are discussed to provide insights for the development of next-generation biomaterials for infected bone defect repair.