Hydroxyapatite

Renal lithiasis is a multifactorial disease. An important number of etiologic factors can be adequately modified through diet, since it must be considered that the urine composition is directly related to diet. In fact, the change of inappropriate habitual diet patterns should be the main measure to prevent kidney stones. In this paper, the relation between different dietary factors (liquid intake, pH, calcium, phosphate, oxalate, citrate, phytate, urate and vitamins) and each type of renal stone (calcium oxalate monohydrate papillary, calcium oxalate monohydrate unattached, calcium oxalate dihydrate, calcium oxalate dihydrate/hydroxyapatite, hydroxyapatite, struvite infectious, brushite, uric acid, calcium oxalate/uric acid and cystine) is discussed.

We have recently reported that human fallopian tubes, which are discarded during surgical procedures of women submitted to sterilization or hysterectomies, are a rich source of human fallopian tube mesenchymal stromal cells (htMSCs). It has been previously shown that human mesenchymal stromal cells may be useful in enhancing the speed of bone regeneration. This prompted us to investigate whether htMSCs might be useful for the treatment of osteoporosis or other bone diseases, since they present a pronounced capacity for osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Based on this prior knowledge, our aim was to evaluate, in vivo, the osteogenic capacity of htMSCs to regenerate bone through an already described xenotransplantation model: nonimmunosuppressed (NIS) rats with cranial defects. htMSCs were obtained from five 30-50 years old healthy women and characterized by flow cytometry and for their multipotenciality in vitro capacity (osteogenic, chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiations). Two symmetric fullthickness cranial defects on each parietal region of seven NIS rats were performed. The left side (LS) of six animals was covered with CellCeram (Scaffdex)-a bioabsorbable ceramic composite scaffold that contains 60% hydroxyapatite and 40% β-tricalciumphosphate-only, and the right side (RS) with the CellCeram and htMSCs (10 6 cells/scaffold). The animals were euthanized at 30, 60 and 90 days postoperatively and cranial tissue samples were taken for histological analysis. After 90 days we observed neobone formation in both sides. However, in animals euthanized 30 and 60 days after the procedure, a mature bone was observed only on the side with htMSCs. PCR and immunofluorescence analysis confirmed the presence of human DNA and thus that human cells were not rejected, which further supports the imunomodulatory property of htMSCs. In conclusion, htMSCs can be used successfully to enhance bone regeneration in vivo, opening a new field for future treatments of osteoporosis and bone reconstruction.

We report the preparation of hydroxyapatite in powdered form by aqueous reaction of calcium nitrate or hydroxide with phosphate ion at room temperature. With a slow maturation step of 48 h avoiding heat, the resulting products show large specific surface areas above 150 m2/g. The specific surface areas also depend on stirring speed with a maximum observed with gentle mixing. Ageing causes

The formation of a salivary pellicle is a prerequisite of bacterial colonization on the tooth, and the aim of this study has been to further the understanding of the role of surface properties in the formation of the salivary pellicle and subsequent adhesion of oral bacteria. Surface modification as a means of interfering with pellicle and plaque formation has been investigated. Five different silicone-containing compounds were used for the surface treatments: polydimethylsiloxane containing aminoalkyl groups {I), polydimethylsiloxane containing partially neutralized aminoalkyl groups (Ill, ethyl silicate (llt), potassium methyl siliconate (IV) and sodium silicate (V). Studies of water wetting, surface charge, oral bacterial adherence and pellicle formation were performed on glass slides and hydroxyapatite beads coated by the test compounds. No correlation was found between contact angle and surface charge, and evidently hydrophobicity, as expressed by water wetting, is not necessarily an indication of a low surface concentration of polar groups. All compounds reduced bacterial adherence after saliva contact, compound IV by around 90%. Different pauerns were seen in the adsorption of pellicle proteins on the different polysiloxanes.

Production of nanostructured materials, similar to the complex structure of nano-calcite of hard tissues, egg shell, teeth and bone, are an attractive field of research. Calcium phosphates with clinical applications, such as hydroxyapatite (HA) (Ca 10 (PO4) 6 (OH) 2) have been widely used in regeneration of bone and fabrication of medical implants, mainly due to the chemical composition and structure similarity between HA and the mineral part of bones and teeth, and also as gene and drug delivery is used. High surface area of HA make it useful for drug release. Moreover, it has antibacterial property and potential applications in rapid microbial detection, treatment of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Biological synthesis has been attracted more attention for compatibility to human safety.

Plaque-induced lesions can produce peri-implant bone loss with ultimate implant loss. Although the peri-implant tissues seem to be more resistant than the periodontal ones to plaque and calculus, they can produce a more extensive spread of the infection to the deeper tissues around implants. The case of a 45year-old female patient is presented in which, over a three year period, there was a progressive loss of peri-implant bone and the formation of a periapical radiolucency with an external fistula. The implant was removed and examined with the cutting-grinding system. Microscopy examination showed that most of the hydroxyapatite (HA) was still adherent to the metal. There was a detachment in the area of the HA-titanium interface. The implant surface was almost completely covered by bacteria. Bacteria were also present in the bone medullary spaces surrounding the implant. The infection of the periodontal tissues had progressed into the alveolar bone, thus producing a localized bone infection. The cause of the implant failure is probably related to a defective connection of the abutment or to overloading of the implant due to the presence of interlocks in the prosthetic restoration.

Different industrial processes exist to purify allogenic bone, providing safe and cleaned blocks for bone allografting. However, they often make use of chemical reagents that can be aggressive for the bone matrix. Bone samples were processed with several soaking techniques used in industry: NaHCO 3 , H 2 O 2 , NaOH and H 2 O 2 +NaOH combined; the consequences on the bone matrix and cytocompoatibility were evaluated on femoral heads from osteoarthritic patients. Alterations of matrix were searched by histochemistry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cytocompatibility was evaluated by coculturing human osteoblast-like cells (SaOS-2) on bone slices. Collagen fibers were dramatically altered at the surface of bone treated with H 2 O 2 , NaOH (and their association), but not with NaHCO 3 . A marked reduction in the number of hydroxyapatite crystals was observed on the trabecular surfaces by TEM and morphological changes were evidenced in SEM and AFM. Argyrophilic proteins of the bone matrix were removed by H 2 O 2 and NaOH (and their association), but not by NaHCO 3 . As a consequence, attachment, spreading, proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity of SaOS-2 were reduced by H 2 O 2 and NaOH treatments. Strong oxidizing reagents altered matrix integrity by modifying collagenous and non-collagenous proteins. Whether these changes have clinical consequences on the bone bonding and osseointegration in human necessitate further investigations. r

We report a retrospective analysis of the incidence of intraoperative femur fractures at the tip of the prosthesis in 45 consecutive, uncemented, long (205-mm), straight hydroxyapatite, fully coated stems used for revision arthroplasty of the hip. Five patients were lost to follow-up. Intraoperative fractures of the distal femur occurred in 7 cases (17.5%). In the remaining 33 cases in which no fracture occurred, the tip of the implanted stem was found to be potentially at risk for causing a fracture in 18 (55%) cases. We concluded that uncemented, 205-mm, straight femoral stems should be used with caution in the setting of revision hip surgery. A bowed stem of that length may be a safer alternative. Otherwise, a shorter, straight stem may reduce the risk of complications at the stem tip.

In this work, a synthetic hydroxyapatite, Bio-gel HTP, marketed by BIO-RAD ® , has been studied in order to propose a method to remove the excess fluoride present in drinking water. The removal of fluoride ions by this adsorbent has been studied as a function of solution pH, and fluoride ion concentration. Experiments of fluoride ions sorption have been carried out with the use of 18 F radiotracer in solutions of NaF at several concentrations with an ion selective electrode used for fluoride analysis. The adsorption isotherms show that the best fluoride adsorption on hydroxyapatite occurs at a pH range of 7.0-7.5. At this pH value the solid presents an important capacity of subtraction of fluoride, of around of 100 mmol/100 g.

Introduction: Reconstruction of the cranial vault is performed for various reasons and precise repair of the defect is important. A modified method of cranioplasty is presented using three-dimensional (3D) models and polyethylmethacrylate mixed with hydroxyapatite, cast in a silicone rubber mould. Patient and method: A large custom made cranial implant was produced using data acquired from 3D computer tomography, rapid prototyping and cast in a silicone rubber mould. This plate was then applied to a 53 year-old man who had undergone a decompressive fronto-parieto-temporo-occipital craniotomy. The bone flap had been lost due to infection. The cranioplasty was performed at 1 year after the initial operation. Results: The cranial plate fitted precisely into the defect and needed no correction at the time of surgery. The stability of the reconstruction plate was increased by the presence of thin margins allowed by silicone rubber elasticity. No complications occurred and the final functional and aesthetic results were good. Conclusion: The use of 3D imaging and rapid prototyping allow precise repair of large skull defects, with good aesthetic and functional results. At the same time, silicone rubber moulds permit the production of very thin details needed not only for cosmetic reasons but for reconstruction plate stability as well. r 2006 European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery

In this study, pure-Ti (Grade-2) was severely plastically deformed by equal-channel angular extrusion (ECAE) to improve its strength, and then subjected to micro arc oxidation (MAO) and hydrothermal treatment (HT) to achieve improved surface behavior with hydroxyapatite (HA)-containing titania (TiO 2 ) coating. Microstructure, tensile properties and wear behavior of UFG Ti were investigated systematically before and after surface modification. ECAE considerably enhanced the strength of coarse-grained (CG) Ti by forming an ultra-fine grained (UFG) microstructure with high dislocation density. The application of MAO with or without HT did not cause remarkable decrease in strength and ductility of CG and UFG Ti, but resulted in a considerable increase in its wear resistance and osseointegration due to the formation of hard and adhered HA-containing TiO 2 coating on the surface. It can be concluded that the use of ECAE plus MAO/HA coating provides a simple and effective procedure to obtain pure Ti with high strength and high wear resistance. The improved bulk and surface properties can make this biocompatible material a good potential candidate for biomedical applications instead of alloys including toxic elements.

Amelogenin, the predominant matrix protein in developing dental enamel, has been considered essential for proper enamel formation . Amelogenin self-assembles into nanospheres that serve as a scaffold for the oriented elongation of enamel crystals. As enamel matures, amelogenin proteins are progressively processed by proteinases, including matrix metallopro-

Hydroxyapatite (HA) - Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)(OH)(2) is a basic inorganic model component of hard biological tissues, such as bones and teeth. The significant property of HA is its ability to exchange Ca(2+) ions, which influences crystallinity, physico-chemical and biological properties of modified hydroxyapatite materials. In this work, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XRD. SEM and EDS techniques were used to determine thermal stability, chemical and phase composition of Mn containing hydroxyapatite (MnHA). Described methods confirmed thermal decomposition and phase transformation of MnHA to alpha TCP, beta TCP and formation of Mn(3)O(4) depending on sintering temperature and manganese content. In vitro biological evaluation of Mn-modified HA ceramics was also performed using human osteoblast cells. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This animal experiment compared the regenerative processes within defined bony defects of the porcine skull after delivery of routinely utilized bone graft materials: anorganic bone matrix (ABM) and an identical ABM carrying the cell binding peptide P-15. Particulated autogenous bone was used as a control group. The chosen porcine model guaranteed the transferability of the obtained results to clinical practice. A total observation period of 6 months was defined. The bone samples were examined microradiographically and histologically at 8 specific times. Sufficient osseointegration and osseoconduction could be demonstrated for both anorganic bone minerals. However, in the selected model significantly higher mineralization rates (p ¼ 0:0286) were found in the microradiographic image at 12 weeks after application of the bioactive form. The histological examination confirmed this accelerating effect on bone formation starting at day 3. At the end of the study after 6 months, the mineralization values had equalized in both study groups.

The effect of different mechanical and chemical pre-treatments on the adhesion strength of hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating on a commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) substrate was studied by means of a standard tensile test followed by microscopic and chemical analysis to determine the locus of fracture. In addition, the effects of either these pre-treatments or post-treatment by low-energy electron irradiation, which allowed tuning the wettability of the surface, on both osteoblast progenitor attachment and S. aureus bacteria attachment were investigated. A dedicated program was developed for unambiguous identification and count of stained cells. A single-phase HAp coating was formed by electrodeposition. A series of surface pre-treatments consisted of grinding down to P1000, etching in HNO 3 /HF solution, grit blast, soaking in NaOH and subsequent heat treatment provided the highest adhesion strength to the HAp coating. Osteoblast progenitors derived from rats may be attached preferentially to a hydrophilic surface (post-treatment to h = 30°), while the bacteria seemed to be less attached to hydrophobic surfaces (post-treatment to h = 105°). However, the results were not statistically different. The bacteria seemed to be less attached to the smoother, uncoated surfaces.

Calcium phosphates and calcium carbonates are among the most prevalent minerals involved in microbial fossilization. Characterization of both the organic and mineral components in biomineralized samples is, however, usually difficult at the appropriate spatial resolution (i.e. at the submicrometer scale). Scanning transmission Xray microscopy (STXM) was used to measure C K-edge, P L-edge, and Ca L-edge near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra of some calcium-containing minerals common in biomineralization processes and to study the experimental biomineralization by the model microorganism, Caulobacter crescentus. We show that the Ca L 2,3 -edges for hydroxyapatite, calcite, vaterite, and aragonite are unique and can be used as probes to detect these different mineral phases. Using these results, we showed that C. crescentus cells, when cultured in the presence of high calcium concentration, precipitated carbonate hydroxyapatite. In parallel, we detected proteins, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids in the mineralizing bacteria at the single-cell scale. Finally, we discussed the utility of STXM for the study of natural fossilized microbial systems.

Objectives. This study evaluated the effects of six phosphoric acidetching agents on dentin, the independent variables being two acid concentrations (10% and 32%-37%) and three thickener conditions (no thickener, silica, and polymer). The tested hypothesis was that the use of different etchants with similar concentrations of phosphoric acid would result in similar depths of dentin demineralization. Methods. Thirty dentin disks were obtained from extracted human teeth by microtome sectioning. The dentin surfaces were etched with one of the etching agents, fixed, dehydrated and dried. The specimens were observed using a FE-SEM. The mean deepest demineralization of intertubular dentin was measured from the fracture surfaces of the disks. These values were analyzed by ANOVA and Duncan's test. The morphological appearance of the dentin surfaces was compared using the following observation criteria: 1) Presence of a cuff of peritubular dentin; 2) Relative thickness of the layer containing residual collagen or smear layer particles; and 3) Formation of a submicron hiatus at the bottom of the exposed collagen network. The pH of each of the etching agents was measured. A correlation analysis was made of the pH vs. the depth of dentin demineralization. Results. Silica-thickened etchants did not demineralize dentin as deeply as did polymer-thickened etchants and unthickened etchants. High magnifications revealed three distinct zones within the demineralized dentin layer: an upper porous zone of residual smear layer or denatured collagen and residual silica particles (in groups etched with silicathickened etchants), an intermediate area with randomly oriented collagen fibers, and a lower zone with a submicron hiatus, few collagen fibers, and scattered hydroxyapatite inclusions. This hiatus was observable in all the specimens etched with the polymer-thickened etchants, in 90% of the specimens etched with the unthickened phosphoric acid liquids, and in 60% of the specimens etched with the silica-thickened gels. Significance. The results obtained suggest that similar concentrations of phosphoric acid etchants containing distinct thickeners result in different demineralization depths as well as different morphology of etched dentin.

A sustainable Knoevenagel condensation of a series of aldehydes with malononitrile and ethyl cyanoacetate is described. The process is based on the combination of microwave activation and hydroxyapatite catalysis under solvent-free conditions. Products are obtained in and high yields after short reaction times. The effects of the specific surface of porous calcium hydroxyapatite and microwave activation are discussed.

We report on a prospective series of 201 primary uncemented total hip arthroplasties with a Bicontact prosthesis at a mean follow-up of 12.9 years. The mean Harris hip score improved from 41 before surgery to 89 at final follow-up. Two femoral stems, one each for infection and fracture, and 12 cups were revised. The mean number of years to revision post-primary surgery was 8.7 years (six months to 16 years). The cumulative survival of the prosthesis was 95.42% for any cause at ten years and 93.57% at 12 years. Survivorship for aseptic loosening of the femoral stem was 100%. In our series, the Bicontact uncemented total hip arthroplasty stem without hydroxyapatite coating showed excellent survival and the cup survival was comparable to other leading series.

Cyclic acetal hydrogels are a novel group of biomaterials which may facilitate osteogenic differentiation of encapsulated bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) because of their neutral degradation products. Here, we have incorporated hydroxyapatite nanoparticles within cyclic acetal hydrogels to create cyclic acetal nanocomposites for craniofacial tissue engineering applications. We hypothesized that inclusion of nanosized hydroxyapatite particles within cyclic acetal hydrogels would upregulate osteogenic signal expression of encapsulated BMSCs, due to enhanced cell adhesion, and therefore promote osteodifferentiation. Experimental nanocomposite groups consisted of lower (5 ng/mL) and higher (50 ng/mL) concentrations of nanoparticles. The nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Swelling parameters of hydrogels in the presence of nanoparticles was studied. Osteoblastic differentiation was characterized by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OC) expression, whereas endogenous osteogenic sig-nal expression was characterized by morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) expression. Finally, immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the presence of OC at the protein level. Results indicated that hydroxyapatite nanoparticles were uniformly distributed throughout the hydrogels and did not affect material properties of the gels. Viability of cells was not affected by nanoparticle concentration, and BMP-2 and OC mRNA expression was enhanced in the presence of nanoparticles. However, a difference in BMP-2, ALP, and OC mRNA expression was not noted between the lower and higher concentrations of nanoparticles. This work demonstrates that inclusion of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles within a cyclic acetal nanocomposite hydrogel may enhance BMSC differentiation by promoting endogenous osteogenic signal expression.

Strains traditionally identified as Proteus vulgaris formed three biogroups. Biogroup 1, characterized by negative reactions for indole production, salicin fermentation and aesculin hydrolysis, is now known as Proteus penneri. Biogroup 2, characterized by positive reactions for indole, salicin and aesculin, was shown by DNA hybridization (hydroxyapatite method) to be a genetic species separate from biogroup 1 and from biogroup 3 which is positive for indole production and negative for salicin and aesculin. In this study, 52 strains were examined, of which 36 strains were Proteus vulgaris biogroup 3, which included the current type strain of the species P. vulgaris (ATCC 29905T), and compared to seven strains of Proteus vulgaris biogroup 2 and nine type strains of other species in the genera Proteus, Providencia and Morganella. By DNA hybridization, these 36 strains were separated into four distinct groups, designated as Proteus genomospecies 3, 4, 5 and 6. DNAs within each separate ...

The microplasma sprayed (MPS) hydroxyapatite (HAP) coating on surgical grade SS316L, is an emerging material for bio-ceramic based implant application involving higher reliability. For this purpose, a 200 mm thick MPS-HAP coating was developed on SS316L substrate and characterized by XRD, SEM and FE-SEM techniques. The local mechanical properties of the coating, e.g. nano-hardness and Young's modulus were evaluated by nanoindentation technique carried out with a Berkovich indenter at various depths in the range of about 170-3000 nm on a polished top surface. The characteristic values of nano-hardness (1.5-5 GPa) and Young's modulus ($60-100 GPa) obtained through the application of Weibull statistics to the experimentally measured data revealed a strong indentation size effect (ISE). Attempts were made to explain the genesis of ISE on the basis of some existing and some new concepts. #

The influence of ionic substituents in calcium phosphates intended for bone and tooth replacement biomedical applications is an important research topic, owing to the essential roles played by trace elements in biological processes. The present study investigates the mechanical and biological evaluation of ionic doped hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium phosphate mixtures which have been prepared by a simple aqueous precipitation method. Heat treating the resultant calcium phosphates in a carbonated atmosphere led to the formation of ionic doped carbonated hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium phosphate mixtures containing the essential ions of biological apatite. The structural analysis determined by Rietveld refinement confirmed the presence of hydroxyapatite as the main phase, together with a considerable amount of β-tricalcium phosphate. Such phase assemblage is essentially due to the influence of substituted ions during synthesis. The results from mechanical tests proved that carbonate substitutions are detrimental for the mechanical properties of apatite-based ceramics. In vitro proliferation assays of osteoblastic-like cells (MC3T3-E1 cell line) to powders revealed that carbonate incorporation can either delay or accelerate MC3T3 proliferation, although reaching the same proliferation levels as control cells after 2 weeks in culture. Further, the powders enable pre-osteoblastic differentiation in a similar manner to control cells, as indirectly measured by ALP activity and Type-I collagen medium secretion.

Uncemented bipolar hemi-arthroplasty is one of the methods used to treat elderly patients with displaced intracapsular fractures of the femoral neck. In an eVort to achieve a tight Wt during uncemented hip hemiarthroplasty there are instances where intraoperative fractures have occurred. We retrospectively reviewed 165 consecutive uncemented Furlong Hydroxyapatite ceramic coated bipolar hemiarthroplasty performed for displaced intracapsular fracture neck of femur, and found 7.4% (12) intraoperative fractures of the proximal femur. Nine fractures involved the calcar, one each occurred in the anterior wall, posterior wall and greater trochanter. All fractures were linear and minimally displaced. Of the Wve fractures that occurred during reaming two were Wxed with circlage wires. The remaining seven fractures occurred during prosthesis implantation of which three were Wxed with circlage wires or cables. All patients had standard postoperative management and were allowed full weight bearing except in two patients (both Wxed fractures) who were kept partial weight bearing for 6 weeks post operation.

The aim of this study was to characterize and compare various titanium (Ti) and hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings on Ti6Al4V, in view of their application on noncemented orthopedic implants. Two innovative vacuum plasma sprayed (VPS) coatings, the first of ultrahigh rough and dense Ti (PG60, Ra=74 microm) and the second of ultrahigh rough and dense Ti coated with HA (HPG60, Ra=52 microm), have been developed, and the response of osteoblast-like cells (MG-63) seeded on these new coatings was evaluated in comparison to: a low roughness and sandblasted (Ti/SA, Ra=4 microm) Ti6Al4V surface; Ti medium (TI01, Ra=18 microm), and high (TI60, Ra=40 microm) roughness VPS coatings; and the relative Ti plus HA duplex coatings (HT01, Ra=12 microm and HT60, Ra=36 microm respectively), also obtained by VPS. PG60 coating presented no open porosity, making it dense and potentially intrinsically stronger. Cell adhesion and proliferation on PG60 was similar to those of the smoothest one (Ti/SA) and adhesion on ultrahigh roughness was lower than the medium- and high-roughness coatings, whereas cell proliferation on PG60 was lower than TI60. The HA coating determined significant increases in cell proliferation at medium and high roughness levels when compared to the relative Ti coating, but not compared to the ultrahigh one; all HA-coated surfaces showed a decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity and collagen I production. Surface morphology and the HA coating strongly affected cell behavior. However, ultrahigh values of roughness are not correctly seen by cells, and the presence of HA has no improving effects.

The dispersion of colloidal ceramic particles in an aqueous media using a charged polymer has been investigated extensively. Most often, such a dispersion is obtained by an electrosteric mechanism. The stabilizing forces that result from electrical double layer repulsion and/or steric interaction must be sufficiently large in magnitude to provide an energy barrier against aggregation. Several factors, such as pH, temperature and ionic strength, nature, structure and molecular weight of the polyelectrolyte and its degree of dissociation can affect the respective contribution of electrostatic and steric interactions. In this study we applied silver nanoparticles prepared by reduction method with modifications. The hydroxyapatite was obtained from pork bone sludge. Polymer system contained poly(acrylic acid) and poly(ethylene glycol). The effects of dispersant structure on particle stabilization were investigated through properties of the suspensions. Viscosity and sedimentation height measurements indicated that addition of the dispersants improve particle stabilization. A dispersants were characterized using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with BSE detector (Back Scaterred Electrons), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and pH determination.

The thermal deposition of hydroxyapatite (HA) on titanium alloy substrate (Ti-6Al-4V) leads to a structure that has very good osseointegration properties. However, clinical failures have been occasionally reported at the interface between substrate and coating. Lifetime is the main parameter in such prostheses; therefore, in order to improve their quality, it is necessary to evaluate the level of stresses near the interface. The high-energy synchrotron radiation combines the advantages of a bulk analysis and reduced volume of the gauge. The objective of our study was to calculate the residual stress using a nonlinear finite-element model and to measure residual stress level near the interface, in the hydroxyapatite coating and in titanium alloy substrate with a nondestructive and high-resolution experiment. The high-energy synchrotron radiation of the BM16 beam-line at ESRF (Grenoble-France) was used with a resolution of down to 10 micrometers. The experimental measurements validate the results found by means of nonlinear finite-element analysis of the plasma spraying induced stress.

In this study, we fabricated polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA) scaffolds with a multi-head deposition system, a solid free-form fabrication technology that was developed in our previous study. The bone regeneration potential of the scaffolds was compared with that of PCL scaffolds fabricated with the same system. The fabricated scaffolds had a pore size of 400 µm and a porosity of 66.7%. The PCL/HA scaffolds had higher mechanical strength and modulus than the PCL scaffolds. To compare the osteogenic potential, the two types of scaffolds were seeded with rat osteoblasts and cultured in vitro or implanted subcutaneously into athymic mice. The cells cultured on PCL/HA scaffolds expressed higher levels of osteopontin and osteonectin, both of which are osteogenic proteins. The PCL/HA scaffolds resulted in larger bone area and calcium deposition in the implants compared to the PCL scaffolds.

The properties of porous hydroxyapatite (HA) bioceramic produced by heat treatment (annealing) of bovine bone were evaluated over temperatures between 400 °C and 1200 °C. The annealed body was characterized by thermal analysis (thermogravimetric analysis (TG)/differential thermal analysis (DTA)), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The XRD results showed that the annealing process enhanced the crystallinity of HA phase in the bone matrix particularly when annealed above 700 °C. There was no secondary phase formation in bones annealed between 600 °C and 1000 °C. However, decomposition of HA to β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) was observed for samples heat-treated at 1100 °C and 1200 °C. The FTIR spectra and the TG/DTA thermogram of as-received bovine bone indicated the presence of organic compounds, which upon annealing at temperatures above 600 °C was completely removed from the matrices. Bovine bone annealed between 800 °C and 1000 °C revealed the characteristics of a natural bone with the interconnecting pore network being retained in the structure.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272884206001581

The purpose of the present study is to synthesize hydroxyapatite by using CaCO 3 and H 3 PO 4 in various water-ethanol solvent systems. It was observed from experiments that formation of ammonium phosphate compounds hindered the formation of calcium phosphates in ethanol medium. Although the reactivity was better in aqueous medium, the carbonate contents of the products obtained were above 8.5%. Best results with a carbonate content as low as 3.82% was obtained in 50% ethanol containing mixed-aqueous medium at 80°C and the FTIR analysis showed that the product was a carbonated apatite with a calculated composition of 14CaO•4.2P 2 O 5 •CO 3 •7.2H 2 O. The amorphous and porous phosphate compound obtained with a BET surface area of 106.6 m 2 g-1 seems to be useful as adsorbent in wastewater treatment. Upon sintering of the amorphous product at 750°C, crystalline hydroxyapatite with a BET surface area of 25.9 m 2 g-1 is obtained that may be used in biomedical applications.

A composite can be defined as a material having two or more chemically distinct phases,
which at the microscopic scale are separated by a distinct interface. A composite have light
weight, high strength to weight ratio and stiffness properties and replaces the conventional
materials. Composites are finding applications in many fields ranging from construction to
automotive industry and today widely in biomedical field as well. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is a
suitable ceramic material for tissue repair and replacement. In this study, ceramic composites
comprising of synthetic HAp reinforced with Polycarbonate (PC) thermoplastic polymer are
fabricated and tested to assess mechanical behaviour of ceramic composite. The materials
may serve the purpose in biomedical engineering in respect to repair and replacement of
fractured bone with artificial bone materials. Many implant materials has been made in the
last three decades of metals, alloys, ceramics and polymers etc. Most metals and ceramics are
much stiffer than bone tissue, which can result in mechanical mismatch (i.e. “stress
shielding”) between the implant and the adjacent bone tissue. Because metals are too stiff in
addition to their other biocompatibility problems, ceramics are too brittle and polymers are
too flexible and weak to meet the mechanical strength while polymers are popular due to
their low density, good mechanical strength, and easy formability however, low stiffness,
high wear rate and low hardness limit their use in various demanding applications. To
overcome these difficulties polymeric bone implants may be used. In this present work, HAp
has been synthesized by wet chemical precipitation route. HAp particulates incorporated into
polymer matrix through a series of processing stages involving melt compounding,
granulating and micro-injection molding. The samples were characterized by X-ray
diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Scanning electron microscopy
(SEM). The mechanical properties such as tensile, compression, flexural, impact and
hardness have been assessed for the composite varying HAp volume percentage in PC
polymer. The aim is to produce a material that has similar mechanical properties to that
of bone in order to achieve mechanical compatibility in the human body

Bioactive ceramics such as hydroxyapatite (HA) can mimic the organic structure of human bone. HA was successfully synthesized from animal bones, corals, and eggshells which have been studied for bone repairing treatment and as implant coatings. This study aims to synthesize nanorod HA from cockle shells via two routes: calcination and the hydrothermal method. The raw cockle shells were converted to calcite by calcination method at 450 degrees C (CS450) and 800 degrees C (CS800) for 2 hrs. The calcite calcium carbonate samples were reacted with diammonium hydrogen phosphate and hydrothermally treated at 110 degrees C. The pH of the solution was kept at 10.5 throughout the synthesis step by adding drops of ammonia. Product obtained was labelled as HA450 and HA800 containing HA powder. Presence of calcite phase in the raw cockle shells was characterized by utilizing Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X­ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transforms infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) analyses and morphologically analyzed by Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The best result was obtained from the HA800 sample where nanoparticle with rod­like shape was observed (aspect ratio = 7) while needle­like particle was seen in HA450 sample (aspect ratio = 20). High purity HA was developed in HA800 sample while HA450 showed small presence of calcite phase. In vitro bioactivity test of HA powder samples incubated simulated body fluid (SBF) for 1, 3, 8, 15 and 21 days showed high bioactivity in both samples by forming apatite agglomerate on the surfaces. Higher microhardness strength was observed in HA800 compared to HA450, CS450 and CS800 sintered pellet samples.

Polyetheretherketone-hydroxyapatite composites were developed as alternative materials for load-bearing orthopedic applications. The amount of hydroxyapatite (HA) incorporated into the polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymer matrix ranges from 5 to 40 vol% and these materials were successfully fabricated by injection molding. This study presents the mechanical and biological behavior of the composite materials developed. It was found that the amount of HA in the composite influenced the tensile properties. Dynamic behavior under tension-tension fatigue revealed that the fatigue-life of PEEK-HA composites were dependent on the HA content as well as the applied load. The biological responses of PEEK-HA composites carried out in vivo verified the biocompatibility and bioactive nature of the composite materials. r

A previous study of coralline hydroxyapatite as a bone-graft substitute was extended from 4 to 12 months to determine better the relationships between implantation time, bone ingrowth and mechanical properties. The model consisted of a 10 x 30 mm window defect in the shaft of the canine radius (a cortical site), and a 10 mm diameter cylindrical defect in the head of the humerus (a cancellous site). In the new study, these two defects were made bilaterally in eight dogs, and filled with block-form coralline hydroxyapatite.

Bioactive glasses have attracted considerable interest in recent years, due to their technological application, especially in biomaterials research. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been used in the study of the crystallization mechanism in the SiO2–Na2O–CaO–P2O5 glass system, as a function of particle size. The curve of the bulk glass presents a slightly asymmetric crystallization peak that could be deconvoluted into two separate peaks, their separation being followed in the form of powder glasses. Also, a shift of the crystallization peaks to lower temperatures was observed with the decrease of the particle size. FTIR studies – that are confirmed by XRD measurements – proved that the different peaks could be attributed to different crystallization mechanisms. Moreover, it is presented the bioactive behavior of the specific glass as a function of particle size. The study of bioactivity is performed through the process of its immersion in simulated human blood plasma (simulated body fluid, SBF) and the subsequent examination of the development of carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite layer on the surface of the particles. The bioactive response is improved with the increase of the particle size of powders up to 80 μm and remains almost unchanged for further increase, following the specific surface to volume ratio decrease.