Papers by Keyword: Apatite Formation

Abstract: In this study, the effects of curing white Portland cement (WPC) and hydroxyapatite mixed with white Portland cement (HAp/WPC) pastes in water and the in vitro biological environment on the compressive strength and bone-like apatite formation were examined. The compressive strength of both WPC and HAp/WPC pastes increased with longer curing periods in water. The compressive strength of WPC and HAp/WPC pastes was 51.88 and 25.67 MPa, respectively, after curing in water for 28 days. The compressive strength of both samples continuously increased during in vitro testing in a simulated body fluid (SBF). After 4 weeks of immersion in a SBF, the strengths of cured WPC and HAp/WPC samples were 59.01 and 28.06 MPa, respectively. It is due to continued hydration of WPC. The addition of HAp to WPC decreased the compressive strength of the sample. Alternatively, it enhanced bone-like apatite formation on the surface of the samples.

Abstract: Brushite cement has advantages such as fast setting, high reactivity and good injectability over apatitic cements. To induce the bioactivity of brushite cements, the goal was to convert it into a bone-like low crystalline carbonate apatite. To achieve this induced transformation, potassium and magnesium were used as dopants which were claimed to be effective in the literature. The cements were immersed for 2 periods of time: 1 day and 6 weeks in Tas-Simulated-Body-Fluid (Tas-SBF) due to its excellent biomimetic properties with its adjusted HCO3- and Cl- ionic rates according to human-blood-plasma. 5% of potassium (to calcium sites) seemed to be more effective over magnesium modification. The aim of this study is to define an optimal composition in terms of transforming brushite into apatite.

Abstract: Pedicle screw (PS) system using Ti-6Al-4V PSs became popular in spinal instrumentation system. However, they sometimes case loosening and back-out from bone because of their poor bone-bonding ability. In the present study, Ti-6Al-4V alloy was subjected to the acid-heat or calcium-heat treatments that are effective for inducing high capacities of apatite formation and bone bonding on pure Ti. When the alloy was subjected to the acid-heat treatment, a surface layer composed of rutile and anatase TiO₂ enriched with Al and V was produced. Thus the treated alloy was neutrally charged and did not form apatite in a simulated body fluid (SBF) even after 3 day. In contrast, when the alloy was subjected to the Ca-heat treatment, a surface layer composed of calcium titanate, anatase and rutile free from Al and V was produced. The treated alloy formed apatite in SBF within 3 days. When the Ti-6Al-4V PSs subjected to the Ca-heat treatment was implanted into vertebra of beagle dogs, they showed higher bone-bonding ability as well as bone contact area than those without the treatment. This kind of bioactive Ti-6Al-4V PSs might be useful for spinal instrumentation since they could prevent loosening and back-out from bone.

Abstract: We reported the apatite-forming ability of CaO-SiO₂ spherical particles obtained through a sol-gel processing. In this study, we synthesized the CaO-SiO₂ containing silver (Ag) ions using silver standard solution to induce antibacterial property and evaluated the effects of Ag on their apatite forming ability in a simulated body fluid (SBF). The particles with 30CaO·70SiO₂ starting composition in Ag standard solution with range 0 to 500 ppm Ag content were synthesized through the sol-gel processing. The prepared 30CaO·70SiO₂ could be obtained as spherical particles with regardless of Ag contents. The prepared Ag-contained 30CaO·70SiO₂ particles formed apatite on their surfaces after soaking in SBF regardless of Ag contents. Consequently, Ag-contained 30CaO·70SiO₂ spherical particle could be obtained without decrease of its apatite forming ability.

Abstract: Bioactive Ti metal able to release Sr ions was prepared by chemical and heat treatments of Ti metal. Ti metal was initially soaked in 5M NaOH solution to form sodium hydrogen titanate. It was soaked in a mixed solution of CaCl₂ and SrCl₂ to replace its Na ions with Ca and Sr ions at a given range from 0.18 to 1.62 in Sr/Ca ratio. When it was heat-treated at 600 oC, it formed Sr-containing calcium titanate (SrCT) and rutile. The apatite formation in SBF of the treated metal was low, but increased markedly by subsequently soaking the metal in 1 M SrCl₂ solution at 80 oC. Thus, the treated metal gradually released Sr ions into phosphate-buffered saline up to 0.9 ppm. It is expected that the Ti metal formed with the bioactive SrCT layer could release Sr ions in a living body to promote bone formation, and bond to a living bone through an apatite.

Abstract: Osteoconductive bone-repairing materials with mechanical properties analogous to those of human bone can be prepared through the combination of an osteoconductive ceramic filler with an organic polymer. Osteoconduction is archived from apatite formation on substrates. Previously, we reported that novel osteoconductive spherical particles in a binary CaO-SiO₂ system were produced through a sol-gel process as ceramic filler for the fabrication of composites. In this study, we fabricated the composites consisting of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and 30CaO·70SiO₂ (CS) spherical particles and evaluated the effects of heat treatment in the range of 320-360 °C on apatite formation of the composites in a simulated body fluid. The prepared composites of PEEK and CS particles form hydroxyapatite on their surfaces in the simulated body fluid. The induction periods of hydroxyapatite on the composites decreased with increasing the amount of CS particles and decreasing the temperature for heat treatment. The apatite formation was affected by exposure of ceramic filler on the polymer matrix.

Abstract: Preparation of bioactive titanium (Ti) metal able to release Zn²⁺ ions was attempted by chemical and heat treatments of Ti metal. Ti metal was soaked in 5M NaOH solution at 60 °C to form sodium hydrogen titanate (SHT) on its surface. Then, it was soaked in a mixed solution of 100 mM Ca(CH₃COO)₂ and 0.01 - 1 mM Zn (CH₃COO)₂ at 40 °C for 24 h to replace Na⁺ ions in SHT with Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions at given range of 0.15 to 2.95 in Zn/Ca ratio. When it was heat-treated at 600 °C for 1 h, zinc-incorporated calcium titanate (ZCT) and rutile were formed on the surface of Ti metal. The ZCT partially replaced its Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions with H₃O⁺ ions by subsequent soaking in 1 mM acetic acid solution at 80 °C. Thus treated Ti metal formed apatite on its surface in a simulated body fluid (SBF) within 3 days, and slowly released Zn²⁺ ions into phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) up to 0.03 ppm. The Ti metal formed with this kind of bioactive ZCT layer on its surface is expected to be useful as orthopedic and dental implants, since it could bond to living bone sooner, by promoting formation of the surrounding bone.

Abstract: Dense HA/TCP bioceramics were immersed in pure bovine serum, rabbit serum and dog serum to observe apatite formation. Deposited crystals were examined using SEM. Results showed that some needle-like crystals formed on surface of sterilized HA/TCP, and needle crystals developed into sheet crystals and stick crystals after ceramics were immersed in bovine serum and rabbit serum respectively. The growth of crystals was maybe affected by the content of calcium, various kinds of albumen and alkaline phosphatase in different serums and the different pH of serum.

Abstract: Porous HA/TCP bioceramics were immersed in pure dog serum to observe apatite formation. Deposited crystals were examined using SEM. Results showed that beamed sheet-like crystals formed on the surface of ceramics granules, and after postponement immersion time, crystals extended and became bigger. EDS and IR results suggested formed crystals were defect-calcium type carbonated hydroxyapatite. HRTEM photograph suggested formation process of new-formed crystals from non-crystal to crystal in serum. Directional organisms acted maybe as a template in process of crystals formation, so new crystals developed along certain direction.

Abstract: In order to overcome the disadvantage of commercialized PMMA bone cement, we have developed novel PMMA-based bone cement(7P3S) reinforced by 30 wt.% of bioactive CaO-SiO2 gel powders to induce the bioactivity as well as to increase mechanical property for the PMMA bone cement. The novel 7P3S bone cement hardened after mixing for about 7 minutes. For in vitro evaluation, apatite forming ability of it was investigated using SBF. When the novel 7P3S bone cement was soaked into SBF, it formed apatite on its surfaces within 1 week Furthermore; there is no decrease in its compressive strength within 9 weeks soaking in SBF. It is though that hardly decrease in compressive strength of 7P3S bone cement in SBF is due to the relative small amount of gel powder or its spherical shape and monosize. In vivo evaluation of the novel 7P3S bone cement was carried out using rabbit. After implantion into rabbit tibia for several periods, the interface between novel bone cement and natural bone was evaluated by CT images. According to the results, the novel bone cement directly contact to the natural bone without fibrous tissue after implantation for 4 weeks. This results indicates that the newly developed 7P3S bone cement can bond to the living bone and also be effectively used as bioactive bone cement without decrease in mechanical property.