Osteoconductive bioceramics

Bone is a natural composite comprised of type I collagen and calcium phosphate minerals, of which nanocrystalline apatite is the main component [39, 40]. Certain osteoconductive bioceramics exert an effect on bone cell attachment and growth factor binding or release, and can accelerate the treatment of bone defects [41-43]. Polymer composite scaffolds can be produced, via electrospinning, which contain a specific amount of electrical charge in order to form non-woven fibrous meshes with fibre dimensions in the nano- to microscale [44-46]. 

In order to control sp>eed of biodegradation, a biphasic calciutn phosphate (BCP) bioceramic is developed, containing both HAp and TCP. By variation HAp/TCP ratio, it is possible to control bioactivity and biodegradation of implant. Since P-TCP is more soluble and HAp allows a biological precipitation of ap>atites, solubility of BCP depends on the ratio of HAp/TCP. Osteoconductivity among BCP, HAp and TCP does not significantly differ. 

Dorozhkin SV. Medical application of calcium orthophosphate bioceramics. Bio 2011 1 1-51. LeGeros R. Z. Properties of osteoconductive biomaterials calcium phosphates. Clin Oithop Rel... 

The growing demand for utilizing bioactive materials for orthopedic applications as well as in maxillofacial surgery, the use of bioceramics such as hydroxyapatite (HA) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) as porous scaffolds has increased, primarily because of their biocompatibility, bioactivity, and osteoconduction characteristics with respect to bone tissue. For tissue regeneration in medicine, three-dimensional scaffolds with specific characteristics are required. A very important property is a high, interconnecting porosity to enable tissue ingrowth into the scaffold [1]. 

Wang, C., Xue, Y, Lin, K., Lu, J., Chang, J., Sun, J., 2012. The enhancement of bone regeneration by a combination of osteoconductivity and osteostimulation using beta-CaSi03/ beta-Ca3(P04)2 composite bioceramics. Acta Biomaterialia 8, 350-360. 

---