Materials in particulate form for tissue engineering. 1. Basic concepts.

For biomedical applications, materials small in size are growing in importance. In an era where 'nano' is the new trend, micro- and nano-materials are in the forefront of developments. Materials in the particulate form aim to designate systems with a reduced size, such as micro- and nanoparticles. These systems can be produced starting from a diversity of materials, of which polymers are the most used. Similarly, a multitude of methods are used to produce particulate systems, and both materials and methods are critically reviewed here. Among the varied applications that materials in the particulate form can have, drug delivery systems are probably the most prominent, as these have been in the forefront of interest for biomedical applications. The basic concepts pertaining to drug delivery are summarized, and the role of polymers as drug delivery systems conclude this review.