Pre-Clinical Analysis of an Acetabular Cup with Improved In Vivo Stability and Integrity

In recent years, the processing of porous ceramic materials for implant applications has motivated the development and optimization of new technologies. To this purpose, a globular protein based (i.e. ovalbumin) consolidation approach has been proposed. In the present study, a porous hydroxyapatite:b-tricalcium phosphate - biphasic ceramics (BCP), was processed by consolidation using the protein-action technique. The processed ceramic materials exhibited appropriate pore configuration in terms of size, morphology and distribution. The in vitro reactivity and dissolution behavior of the ceramics was evaluated in SBF and biocompatibility in an osteoblasts culture, respectively. Overall, the materials tested showed biocompatibility and suitable properties for osteoconduction. A rough surface pattern displayed by the ceramics seemed to have improved both; cell adhesion and proliferation processes. In conclusion, this study revealed that the porous matrices obtained, promoted suitable development of cell metabolism without cellular death.