Porous calcium phosphate ceramic granules and their behaviour in differently loaded areas of skeleton

Abstract

Two kinds of calcium phosphate ceramic (CPC) granules of high porosity (50 ± 5%) and improved (for such materials) compressive strength (10–25 MPa) consisted of hydroxyapatite (PHA) and a mixture of hydroxyapatite (HA) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) in 60 HA/40 β-TCP composition (PCPC) were developed. A comparative study of in vivo behavior of the materials implanted into an almost unloaded (greater trochanter of femur) and loaded (distal methaphysis of femur) zones in the skeleton of rabbits was performed. Significant activating influence of loading on the processes of new bone formation and reconstruction in macropores of both materials during all periods of implantation (up to 6 months) was observed. The role of relevant cells in the processes in the unsoluble PHA and the degradable PCPC (in which the processes was observed to intensify due to dissolution of the material) was studied and is discussed. Great disturbance in pore structure of the BCPC was revealed in more late periods of implantation. After 6 months, presence of large composite fragments located in intertrabecula spaces of greater trochanter was a characteristic feature of the PCPC crushing. The developed CPC materials seems to have good perspective for using in bone defect plasty in some loaded areas of the skeleton.