Application of Newly Developed Globular-Shaped Granules of β-Tricalcium Phosphate for Bone Substitute

• Published in: Key engineering materials 2008-01, Vol.361-363, p.1013-1016
• Main Authors: Gonda, Yoshinori, Ioku, Koji, Ikeda, Tohru, Kawachi, Giichiro, Kurosawa, Hisashi, Yonezawa, Ikuho, Okuda, Takatoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1013-9826; 1662-9795; 1662-9795
• DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.361-363.1013

Globular-shaped beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) granules were synthesized using a unique dropping slurry method and the biological response was analyzed by implantation into the rat femur. Two kinds of globular-shaped β-TCP granules, composed of either rod-shaped particles or conventional non-rod-shaped particles were synthesized, implanted into the left femurs of 8-week-old female Wistar rats, and analyzed histologically. Commercially available β-TCP granules composed of conventional non-rod-shaped particles were also implanted as a control experiment. Four weeks after the operation, part of each implant was already resorbed and the resorbed area was replaced by newly formed bone tissue and bone marrow. Eight weeks after the operation, the resorption and replacement were advanced in each implant. At 12 weeks after the operation, residual globular-shaped β-TCP granules composed of rod-shaped particles were resorbed into compact petrotic bone tissue almost completely. The formation of less compact petrotic bone tissue was observed in specimens implanted with globular-shaped β-TCP granules composed of conventional non-rod-shaped particles. Commercially available β-TCP granules composed of conventional non-rod-shaped particles were mostly resorbed into trabecular bone and the formation of compact petrotic bone tissue was rarely observed. These data suggested that both the unique spherical shape and microstructure of β-TCP particles affected bone-forming activity after the operation.