title: Porous titanium for biomedical applications: an experimental study on rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to carry out an in vivo assessment of bone ingrowth in two different types of porous titanium -the first being completely porous, and the second with a porous surface and dense nucleus, manufactured by powder metallurgy- and to evaluate their mechanical properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten scaffolds from each group were submitted to metallographic analysis and compression tests. Next, two scaffolds of each type were inserted into 14 rabbits, which were sacrificed 8 weeks after surgery. The samples were submitted for histological examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metallographic analysis revealed interconnected pores, and the average interconnected pore diameter was about 360 mm, with 36% total porosity. The totally porous titanium samples and the titanium samples with porous surface and dense nucleus showed an average compressive strength of 16.19 MPa and 69.27 MPa, respectively. After 8 weeks, the animals showed bone ingrowth, even into the most internal pores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pore morphology was effective in permitting bone ingrowth in both groups. Titanium scaffolds with a porous surface and dense nucleus showed the best mechanical properties and most adequate interface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Buccal Diagnosis, São Jose dos Campos School of Dentistry, State University of São Paulo, São José dos Campos, Brazil. luanamrv@itelefonica.com.br
authors.forename: Luana-Marotta-Reis
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Vasconcellos
authors.forename: Daniel-de Oliveira
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Fernanda-Oliveira
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Luis-Gustavo-Oliveira
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: de Vasconcellos
authors.forename: Mário-Lima-de Alencastro
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Graça
authors.forename: Yasmin-Rodarte
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Carlos-Alberto-Alves
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cairo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D008422:Materials Testing; D016348:Osseointegration; D011817:Rabbits; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium