Papers by Author: Masato Tamai

Abstract: In our previous study, we reported that a metastable phase with high Ca/P molar ratio appeared in the temperature range from 700 οC to 800οC
The purpose of this study is to investigate the crystallographic relationship between the metastable phase and HAp matrix. Ca-def HAp was annealed at 500-1000' ο C in air. High-resolution transmission electron microscopic (HRTEM) observations were performed along the [010], [110] and [001] zone axes in order to investigate the structure of the metastable phase. From HRTEM images and results of the analysis of selected area electron diffraction patterns along [010], [110] and [001] zone axes, the lattice constants of the metastable phase were analyzed into a=2.86nm, b=0.94nm, and c=0.69nm of an orthorhombic crystals system.

Abstract: The cytotoxicity of five calcium phosphate ceramics, hydroxyapatite (HAp), flouroapatite (FAp), α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP), β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP), was investigated. Based on the guidelines of biological test for medical devices in Japan, a cytotoxicity test of these calcium phosphates was carried out using Chinese hamster V79 lung fibroblasts. The cytotoxic study revealed that FAp and α-TCP showed high cytotoxicities. From various analyses, it was considered that the cytotoxicity of the FAp was due to fluorine ions extracted in a culture medium and the cytotoxicity of α-TCP resulted from a decrease in pH of the medium by the phosphoric acid, which produced by hydrolysis of( the α-TCP.

Abstract: To promote the activity of normal human osteoblasts (NHOst), the novel HAp ceramics containing Nb ions (NbHAp) were synthesized by wet chemical process, which reacting aqueous solution containing a mixture of Ca(NO3)2, (NH4)2HPO4, and the Nb aqueous solution. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that NbHAp had a monolithic apatitic structure, although crystallite decreased as Nb content increased. From inductively coupled plasma analysis, maximum amount of Nb ions in the sample was almost 8.2atom% of P ions. The NbHAps were presented as aggregates and composed of fine crystal of <1µm in diameter. Nb ions in NbHAp were uniformly distributed in the aggregates. Furthermore, high-resolution XPS spectra of Nb 3d5/2 indicated that Nb ions in the HAp were presented as Nb5+. These results suggested that Nb ions were at PO4 site in crystal structure of HAp. When NHOst were cultured with the NbHAp, their ALP activity were twice as much as that of NHOst cultured with HAp without Nb ions.