Papers by Keyword: Calcium Phosphate Ceramic

Abstract: Bone remodelling is a coupled process of bone formation and resorption. This process is physiologically controlled and involves the synthesis of bone matrix by osteoblasts and bone resorption by giant cells called osteoclasts. It includes a complex interaction of cells, with specific chemokine signalling. In order to study bone remodelling in vitro, we cultivated two precursor cellline types in a model coculture system on synthetic hydroxyapatite ceramic (HA) for 14 days. The monocytes have the capacity to differentiate into osteoclast-like cells, and the bone marrow stromal cells can differentiate into osteoblast-like cells. This coculture was used to analyse the in vitro cell interaction between monocytes and stromal cells. Furthermore, the attachment of the bone marrow stromal cells to the resorbed HA-surfaces was studied. In this in vitro study we demonstrated osteoclast-like differentiation and bone marrow stromal growth in a coculture system on a synthetic bone substitute material. Under optimal conditions, HA can be resorbed and bone marrow cells can grow into the lacunas to form new bone. These results give important cues for the adjustment of synthetic bone substitute materials for optimal remodelling behaviour.

Abstract: The design and processing of 3D macroporous bioactive scaffolds is one of the milestones for the progress of bone tissue engineering and bone regeneration. Calcium phosphate based ceramics are among the most suitable materials, due to their similarity to the bone mineral. Specifically, beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) is known to be a resorbable and bioactive material, with well established applications as bone regeneration material. The aim of this work is to explore a new route to obtain β-TCP macroporous scaffolds starting from calcium phosphate cements. To this end foamed calcium phosphate cement, composed of alpha tricalcium phosphate as starting powder was used as initial material. The set foamed structures, made of calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) were sintered to obtain the final β-TCP macroporous architecture. The interconnected macroporosity was maintained, whereas the porosity in the nanometric range was strongly reduced by the sintering process. The sintering produced also an increase in the mechanical properties of the scaffold.

Abstract: Zinc substituted hydroxyapatite of varying wt% was produced using a precipitation method based on reacting calcium and zinc nitrate with ammonium phosphate. Characterisation results from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) showed that zinc was successfully substituted up to 0.8wt% using this method. Rietveld analysis showed that the alattice parameter was reduced and c-lattice parameter was increased with increasing zinc content. Initial mechanical test results showed samples with a zinc content of 0.4% had the greatest compressive strength.

Abstract: Several novel methods for the production of calcium phosphate based functional gradient materials have been explored. The processes involved the use of polyurethane foams with a different number of pores per inch which were joined together in a variety of ways to form unique templates prior to vacuum impregnation with a ceramic slip. Before processing, rectangular blocks of foam were joined by stitching or trapezoidal blocks were compressed into rectangular shapes to produce a gradient of porosity along the length of the template. Four-point bend testing of the sintered samples which combined two porous structures showed them to have comparable mechanical properties to homogeneous ceramics based on foam templates with uniform pore sizes, with no evidence of weakness at the interface. The method was further developed to make a cylindrical sample with two diverse porous structures which more closely mimic the natural bone morphology. The two very different areas, which represented cortical and cancellous bone, had good structural integrity at the interface.

Abstract: Ceramic slips with powder loadings in the range of 80-140 wt% were used to investigate the effect of slip loading on the physical and mechanical properties of open pore HA/TCP bioceramics. The results indicated that increasing the slip loading had an effect on the properties of the samples. The average apparent density, the work of fracture and compressive strength all increased with slip loading. In contrast, the effect of increasing slip loading on the four-point bending strength was not significant.

Abstract: The production of nano-scale hydroxyapatite (HA) suspensions to be used for the reticulated foam method of scaffold production was investigated at temperatures of between 10 and 60OC. An increase in reaction temperature was associated with an increase in the particle size and some decrease in the aspect ratio of the particles. Pre-treatment of the polyurethane foam template using PPDS (potassium peroxodisulfate) solution resulted in a significantly improved coating of HA when compared to the untreated samples or those treated with ethanol. Initial trials coating the polyurethane with HA produced at the different reaction temperatures showed a superior coating with the suspension produced at 10OC compared to that at 60OC. A scaffold was produced using the HA suspension produced at room temperature, but further understanding of the suspension properties and the optimum conditions for coating of the PU foam are required for improved mechanical performance.

Abstract: The study is aimed at to explore the construction of bone graft with calcium phosphate ceramics implanted in subcutaneous fat, and provide applying technique for the in vivo bone tissue engineering. Forty-eight calcium phosphate ceramics (Ca-P ceramics) columns with Φ 5×8 mm were prepared, and eight dogs were used in this experiment. Six samples were implanted in each dog. Three in dorsal muscles while the others in subcutaneous fat. The specimens were harvested at 4, 6, 12 and 24 weeks post operation, for gross observation, SPECT and histological studies. The osseous or osteoid tissue formation at different times in the two non-osseous sites was compared and the new bone grafts in subcutaneous fat and intramuscular implantations were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the bone graft could be constructed not only in muscle but also in subcutaneous fat. Compared to that in muscle, constructing bone graft in subcutaneous fat could have brighter prospect to clinical application.

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the osteoinductivity of the composite materials (calcium phosphate ceramics/PLA or collagen composites) with similar physical character of osteoinductive calcium phosphate ceramics and the influence of the chemical composition of the composite materials on osteoinductivity, and also to provide an experimental evidence for optimizing the design of the composite materials. Two kinds of composite materials were prepared. One (BCP/PLA) is fabricated with different ratio of BCP (biphasic calcium phosphate) ceramics powder and PDLLA powder through the particulateleaching technique. The other (BCP/collagen) is that BCP ceramics sintered at 1250oC and modified with collagen. The porous materials cylinders with Φ 5×8 mm were prepared. SEM was used to observe the microstructure and physical morphology of the composite materials. The two groups of composite materials cylinders were implanted in the dorsal muscles of four dogs. Six samples of each group were implanted in each dog respectively. The specimens were harvested at 2, 4, 12 and 24 weeks post operation, and thin decalcified sections were prepared for light microscopy (LM) analysis to evaluate their osteoinductivity and compare the capability of osteoinduction. The fibro-tissue and bone-like tissue were observed in the two composites, but no obvious bone formation was found in the tested periods. The results indicated that the composite materials could modify the mechanical property of ceramics. However, if the composite materials were biodegraded soon, new bone could not form into the scaffold, and the calcium phosphate should be the major component of osteoinductive materials.

Abstract: The mRNA expression of Cbfa1 and osteocalcin gene induced by calcium phosphate ceramics (Ca/P) were quantitative analyzed according to real-time RT-PCR method in this work. C2C12 cells were co-culture with four kinds of porous Ca/P ceramics for 2 and 5d without adding other growth factors. The four kinds of Ca/P ceramics were pure hydroxyapatite (HA) sintered at 1250°C and HA/TCP with a ratio of 60/40 sintered at 1100°C (HT1), 1200°C (HT2) and 1250°C (HT3) respectively. Real-time RT-PCR analysis found the Ca/P ceramics induced positive expression of Cbfa1 and osteocalcin in C2C12 cells, After 5 days culture, Cbfa1 and osteocalcin showed obvious higher expression compared with that in 2 days. Cbfa1 and osteocalcin expression in BCP was much higher than HA, and the expression level of osteocalcin was HT1>HT2>HT3>HA. Our results showed that Ca/P ceramics alone were sufficient to induce C2C12 cells to osteoblastic differentiation and the sinter temperature and phase composition of Ca/P ceramics could affect their osteoindctive capacity significantly.

Abstract: Autologous bone chips are widely used in orthopedic surgery to fill large defects due to osteoinductive property but are limited in quantity. Several groups have reported the formation of mineralized bone after implantation of bioceramics in ectopic sites of different animals. However, osteoinduction by bioceramics has not yet proved to be equivalent to those of autologous bone. In this study, we compare the bone inducing capability of autologous bone chips and synthetic biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramics granules sintered at various temperatures. Both materials were implanted in muscles and femurs of goats inside hollow containers for 6, 12 and 24 weeks and analyzed by histology. This study showed that bone tissue formed in contact with micro porous ceramics sintered at low temperature as well as autologous bone chips both in ectopic and intrafemoral sites of goats.