Porous hydroxyapatite–tricalcium phosphate bioceramics

Porous bioceramics hydroxyapatite–tricalcium phosphate (HA–TCP), aimed to be applied in clinic, was fabricated by powder metallurgy and evaluated using both in vitro and in vivo models. Porous HA–TCP was supposed as a partially biodegradable material and designed as a scaffold for bone reconstruction or regeneration. The material processing was proposed and the physical properties as well as the microstructure feature were characterised here. Biological postulation of the relationship between seeding density, proliferation and viability of human osteoblasts cultured on the porous HA–TCP was quantitatively measured. Bone reconstruction was investigated both in vitro and in vivo by use of these biodegradable scaffolds with pore sizes ranged from 200 to 400 μm in diameter. The degradable bioceramic supported cellular proliferation seeded on the scaffold and showed normal differentiated function in vitro. Suitable pore size of the porous bioceramic was required if promotion of bone reconstruction was desired. Clinical trials showed that the bioceramics were successfully applied for bone reconstruction and regeneration and could be partially degraded in human body in 18 months. This approach suggests the feasibility of using porous HA–TCP bioceramics for the transplantation of autogenous osteoblasts to regenerate bone tissue.