Papers by Author: Silvia R. A. Santos

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: The study aimed the evaluation of the effect of osseous repair in the synthetic hydroxyapatite cylinder (HA) implanted in rabbit’s tibia. Fifteen adult animals, weighing around 2.5 and 3.0 Kg, sourced by the Fluminense Federal University Animal Lab were anesthetized with spinal anesthesia, and two perforations were created in right tibia and filled with cylinders (2 x 6 mm) of HA. The animals were killed after 28 days for evaluating the HA cylinder through attenuated total reflection infrared microscopy (ATR-FTIR). The two fragments of tibia with the cylinder were collected and fixed in alcohol 70° prior to dehydration in successive alcohol solutions and then impregnated and embedded in methyl-methacrylate. Not stained neither pasted to lamina, sections of 200 µm thickness were analyzed in a Shimadzu IRPrestige-21 Automatic Infrared Microscope (AIM-8800) with ATR Objective Mirror (ATR-8800M). Prior to implantation, HA cylinder was characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Attenuated Total Reflection- Infra Red microscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). After the implantation, the spectrum of the ATR-FTIR at the interface to neoformed bone was acquired. The hydroxyapatite synthesized was crystalline and stoichiometric with Ca/P ratio of 1.66, becoming carbonated after 28 days of implantation. We conclude that attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) is a useful tool for biomaterial evaluation and able to detect the modification of the chemical HA cylinder pattern occurred probably by ions migration in the biological environment.

Abstract: Porous granules without organic residues were produced from bovine medular anorganic bone. Sample showed carbonate content and crystalline order similar to natural bone. The cytotoxicity of anorganic bovine xenograft (Ossĕus®) was valuated from fibroblasts (1.5x104/cm2) cultured in serial diluted extract (0 – 100%) of Ossĕus plus 10% of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Pure extract (100%) reduced in 15% the number of viable cells (p<0.05, ANOVA, Tukey test) indicating very low cytotoxicity. Samples were implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of mice in order to evaluate tissue reaction. An organized connective tissue in contact to the granules was observed nine weeks after implantation. The anorganic bovine xenograft (Ossĕus®) was biocompatible and its behavior and osteoconduction potential should be evaluated in bony defects.

Abstract: Despite of the wide use of hydroxyapatite (HA) for bone repair and regeneration, its brittleness has limited clinical application to less stressed body parts. Thus, evaluation of HA mechanical properties has been an important research matter. The aim of this study is to assess the compressive strength of a stoichiometric HA with 1.66 Ca/P molar ratio, synthesized by hydrothermal method. Cylindrical samples were processed by uniaxial compacting, followed by sintering. Compressive strength of cylindrical samples with 2.0 medium diameter/height ratio was measured according to ASTM C 1424. Load to failure divided by the cross-sectional area of the samples were reported and microstructural characterization was made by MEV-EDS. The compression strength results were compared to values reported in the literature.

Abstract: The study was carried out aiming the evaluation of the effect of hydroxyapatite (HA) and zinc-substituted hydroxyapatite (ZnHA) on osseous repair of rabbit’s tibia. For the study, 15 adult animals, weighing around 2.5 and 3.0 Kg, sourced by the Fluminense Federal University Animal Lab were acquired. Two perforations were created in each tibia and filled with cylinders (2x6 mm) of HA (group 1, right) or ZnHA (group 2, left). The animals were killed after 7, 14, and 28 days for evaluating the histological aspects of the interface site and bone repair. No sign of inflammatory reaction surrounding the cylinders area were observed, neither giant cells. Osteogenesis was evidently accelerated in all healing periods for the ZnHA group in regards to the HA group. Randomly dispersed areas of neoformed bone among wide areas of fibrous connective tissue was observed in the HA group. We conclude that both biomaterials are biocompatible, but zinc-containg HA enhanced and accelerated the osteogenesis in relation to HA.

Abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HA) and apatite based biomaterials are important for bone replacement. Different apatites could be produced by substituting calcium, phosphate or hydroxyl groups, resulting in new materials with different physical, chemical and biological properties. In this work we investigate the biological compatibility of apatites modified by divalent cations in cultured mammalian cells using Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts cell line. Modified apatites, Ca9.5M0.5(PO4)6(OH)2 (M=Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Sr, V e Pb) and Ca10(VO4)6(OH)2 were produced and characterized by FTIR, XRD and XRF. Extracts of each metal-modified apatites (0.1mg/mL of Dulbeco Modified Eagle Medium – DMEM without serum) were obtained. Cells (3x104) were exposed for 24 h/37C to the pure extract (100%). Afterwards, the number of viable cells was determined in a hemocitometer. The number of viable cells in the absence of any extract was taking as 100%. SHA didn’t present any toxicity while phenol killed 82% of the cells. In the presence of pure extract of Fe-HA or Sr- HA an increase of 70% and 20%, respectively, in the number of relative cells was observed. On the other hand, the number of residual cells after treatment with the pure extract of Pb+2, Zn+2, Co+2, and (VO4)3- was73, 65, 48, and 21%, respectively. In conclusion, cells response was strongly dependent on the metal that substitutes calcium or phosphate. Further studies are required to better understand the biological effect of these substitutions.

Abstract: In the present study, two methods for the production of three-dimensional scaffolds made of bioactive ceramics are presented. Depending on the method, the final product can be composed by pure hydroxyapatite or biphasic: hydroxiapatite + tricalcium phosphate. Bioactivity tests showed that all scaffolds are bioactive. Preliminary studies with adipose stem cells indicated biocompatibility of both scaffolds.

Abstract: The present study presents the relevance of X-ray diffraction analysis using synchrotron light in the identification of phases with low intensity peaks. Niobium sheets were coated with monetite and then converted to hydroxyapatite in an alkali solution. Octacalcium phosphate was identified as an intermediate phase in the conversion monetite-hydroxyapatite.