title: Microstructure and chemistry affects apatite nucleation on calcium phosphate bone graft substitutes.
abstract: The bioactivity of calcium phosphate bone grafts of varying chemistry and strut-porosity was compared by determining the rate of formation of hydroxycarbonate apatite crystals on the material surface after being soaked in simulated body fluid for up to 30 days. Three groups of silicate-substituted hydroxyapatite material were tested, with each group comprising a different quantity of strut-porosity (23, 32, and 46 % volume). A commercially available porous β-tricalcium phosphate bone graft substitute was tested for comparison. Results indicate that strut-porosity of a material affects the potential for formation of a precursor to bone-like apatite and further confirms previous findings that β-tricalcium phosphate is less bioactive than hydroxyapatite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, School of Engineering and Materials, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Charlie R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Campion
authors.forename: Sara L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Karin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hing
mesh_terms: D001031:Apatites / Q000737:chemistry*; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C020243:calcium phosphate