Rabbit's cranial defect regeneration using a fine-grained ZrO2- (15 wt%)HAp ceramic implant fabricated by SPS-RS technique

• Published in: Ceramics international 2022-05, Vol.48 (10), p.13817-13825
• Main Authors: Papynov, E.K., Apanasevich, V.I., Plekhova, N.G., Zinoviev, S.V., Kotciurbii, E.A., Shichalin, O.O., Modin, E.B., Korshunova, O.V., Afonin, I.S., Evdokimov, I.O., Bardin, A.A., Buravlev, I. Yu, Portnyagin, A.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioceramics; Bone implants; Histology; Hydroxyapatite; Morphology; Spark plasma sintering; Zirconium dioxide
• ISSN: 0272-8842; 1873-3956
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.01.263

ZrO2-hydroxyapatite composite bioceramics is considered to be a promising material for bone defects recovery, at the same time there are virtually no “in vivo” biotests reported for this system combining modern imaging techniques, histological studies, and blood biochemical analysis. Here we have thoroughly researched biocompatibility of high quality bioceramics based on ZrO2-(15 wt%)-hydroxyapatite composite fabricated by spark plasma sintering-reactive sintering technique. Implant's osteointegration mechanism was studied for the case of regeneration of the rabbit's cranial bone involving a complex of histological, morphometric, X-ray, and hematological techniques. Bioceramics osteointegration was shown to be efficient, proceeding through ossification of the newly formed cartilaginous tissue and bioceramics-driven bone matrix remodeling in the region of trepanation defect. Obtained results clearly show bright prospects of implementing spark plasma sintered zirconia-hydroxyapatite composite ceramics as a potential implant material for regenerative and bone-reconstructive surgery. [Display omitted]