Papers by Author: Robson Pacheco Pereira

Abstract: In the present work, mechanical properties of a stoichiometric hydroxyapatite (HA), synthesized by hydrothermal method, with 1.66 Ca/P molar ratio are investigated as a function of the processing parameters. Cylindrical samples were processed by uniaxial compacting, followed by sintering, aiming to obtain high density HA samples. Density values were obtained by the geometric method and SEM images were taken from HA samples in order to characterize their topography and to determine the grain size for each set of samples. Vickers micro-hardness was measured for each set of samples. Compressive strength of cylindrical samples with 2.0 mean diameter/height ratio was measured reporting load to failure divided by the cross-sectional area of the samples. Vickers micro-hardness and compaction strength values of the samples were found to be in agreement with the relative density and grain size values.

Abstract: Synthetic Hydroxyapatite (HA) has been used as coating in order to enhance biocompatibility of titanium implants. Osseointegration at the implant-bone interface can be positively affected by the presence of HA coating and other biocompatible calcium phosphates (CaP) deposited on titanium implants, due to the high biocompatibility of these bioceramics. The biomimetic process is based on the nucleation and growth of a bioceramic film onto a substrate immersed in a body fluid solution (SBF) and it can be applied to deposit CaP coatings onto metallic substrates. The present work presents results on the characterization by SEM of CaP coating deposited on porous titanium samples by a biomimetic process.

Abstract: The osseointegration of porous titanium implants was evaluated in the present work. Implants were fabricated from ASTM grade 2 titanium by a powder metallurgy method. Part of these implants were submitted to chemical and thermal treatment in order to deposit a biomimetic coating, aiming to evaluate its influence on the osseointegration of the implants. The implants were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Electron Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Raman Spectroscopy. Three coated and three control (uncoated) implants were surgically inserted into thirty albino rabbits’ left and right tibiae, respectively. Tibiae samples were submitted to histological and histomorphometric analyses, utilizing SEM, optical microscopy and mechanical tests. EDS results indicated calcium (Ca) and phosphorous (P) at the surface and Raman spectra exhibited an intense peak, characteristic of hydroxyapatite (HA). Bone neoformation was detected at the bone-implant interface and inside the pores, including the central ones. The mean bone neoformation percentage in the coated implants was statistically higher at 15 days, compared to 30 and 45 days. The mechanical tests showed that coated implants presented higher resistance to displacement, especially after 30 and 45 days.