Review: Silicon oxycarbide based materials for biomedical applications

•Silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) materials receiving increasing attention for biomedical applications.•Surface functionalization of SiOC leads to efficient drug delivery systems.•SiOC materials find applications as coatings in blood-contacting devices.•Bioactivity of SiOC materials demonstrated in simulated body fluid.•Incorporation of metallic ions in SiOC leads to antibacterial properties.