Hydroxyapatite Ceramics Research Articles

Mechanical property analysis and optimization of nano-hydroxyapatite coated carbon fiber reinforced hydroxyapatite composites

Carbon fiber (CF) is one of ideal reinforcements to hydroxyapatite (HA) owing to its unique structure, excellent biocompatibility and high mechanical properties. However, the mechanical property of CF reinforced HA (CF/HA) composites cannot be effectively improved due to the mismatch in surface properties and thermal expansion coefficients between CF and HA. In order to solve the problems, nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) coating with different thickness was fabricated on the CF surface. The effect of the coating thickness on mechanical property of nHA-coated CF/HA composites was studied by finite element analysis. The CF with proper nHA coating thickness was subsequently used to reinforce HA. The compressive strength of nHA-coated CF/HA composites was approximately 97.3 % and 164.6 % higher than those of the uncoated CF/HA composites and pure HA ceramics, respectively. The interface properties and crack propagation were analyzed by cohesive element in the finite element analysis. The toughening mechanism of the composites included interfacial debonding, crack deflection, crack branching, and crack bridging. The mechanical properties of nHA-coated CF/HA composites were enhanced due to the strong interfacial bonding strength and reducing cracking in HA matrix. The prepared nHA-coated CF/HA composites satisfy the requirement of the mechanical properties of human load-bearing bone. It can be used to prepare cages, plates, screws, pins and other compact bone substitute parts in bone grafting. The study provided a method for construction of nHA-coated CF/HA composites with the designed properties by adjusting the nHA coating on the fiber and can be used to design other fibers reinforced ceramic matrix composites.

Mechanical properties of additively manufactured lattice structures composed of zirconia and hydroxyapatite ceramics

Ceramic lattices hold great potential for bone scaffolds to facilitate bone regeneration and integration of native tissue with medical implants. While there have been several studies on additive manufacturing of ceramics and their osseointegrative and osteoconductive properties, there is a lack of a comprehensive examination of their mechanical behavior. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the mechanical properties of different additively manufactured ceramic lattice structures under different loading conditions and their overall ability to mimic bone tissue properties.Eleven different lattice structures were designed and manufactured with a porosity of 80% using two materials, hydroxyapatite (HAp) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO2). Six cell-based lattices with cubic and hexagonal base, as well as five Voronoi-based lattices were considered in this study. The samples were manufactured using lithography-based ceramic additive manufacturing and post-processed thermally prior to mechanical testing. Cell-based lattices with cubic and hexagonal base, as well as Voronoi-based lattices were considered in this study. The lattices were tested under four loading conditions: compression, four-point bending, shear and tension.The manufacturing process of the different ceramics leads to different deviations of the lattice geometry, hence, the elastic properties of one structure cannot be directly inferred from one material to another. ZrO2 lattices prove to be stiffer than HAp lattices of the same designed structure. The Young’s modulus for compression of ZrO2 lattices ranges from 2 to 30GPa depending on the used lattice design and for HAp 200MPa to 3.8GPa. The expected stability, the load where 63.2% of the samples are expected to be destroyed, of the lattices ranges from 81 to 553MPa and for HAp 6 to 42MPa.For the first time, a comprehensive overview of the mechanical properties of various additively manufactured ceramic lattice structures is provided. This is intended to serve as a reference for designers who would like to expand the design capabilities of ceramic implants that will lead to an advancement in their performance and ability to mimic human bone tissue.

In-situ preparation of nitrogen-doped porous hydroxyapatite bioceramic with high carbonate content using nitrocellulose self-propagating sintering

Nitrocellulose (NC) has important applications in both military and civilian fields. However, due to expiration dates, declining quality, etc., more than 100,000 tons of NC are disposed of per year, mostly by incineration, which is a great waste of resources. In this paper, using NC's characteristics of self-sustaining combustion, high gas yield and no residue, a nitrogen-doped porous hydroxyapatite bioceramic with high carbonate content (NPC-HA) was prepared in situ by a self-propagating sintering method. The C content of NPC-HA reaches 6%, and the N content is 0.34%. After treatment at the optimal temperature of 1000 °C, NPC-HA maintains the basic morphology of hydroxyapatite (HA) needle-like particles. Moreover, these particles are fused, forming a nest-like pore structure that disperses stress, producing a significant increase in compressivestrength. CCK-8 results show that NPC-HA has excellent biocompatibility due to nitrogen doping, high carbonate content and abundant pore structures. The method not only effectively utilizes NC industrial waste but also significantly reduces the sintering temperature of HA ceramics from the usual 1200 °C to 1000 °C. Therefore, it is a green preparation technology for porous HA bioceramics with considerable promise for wide industrial use.

Evolution of phase, morphology, physicochemical properties, and biological properties of HA ceramic with the increase of crystallinity

Hydroxyapatite (HA), a commonly used material for bone repair, can enhance its biological properties through the modulation of its crystallinity. Exploring the variations in physicochemical and biological properties associated with different degrees of crystallinity is crucial for advancing the applications of HA. In this study, stoichiometric nano-apatite precursors were initially synthesized using chemical precipitation. Subsequently, four groups of HA ceramics with varying degrees of crystallinity (24 %, 42 %, 72 %, 100 %) were produced by adjusting the calcination temperature, as confirmed through comprehensive characterizations. A systematic investigation was then conducted to examine the impact of crystallinity on the physicochemical, cytological, and in vivo osteogenic properties of HA ceramics, elucidating the influence of crystallinity on the osteogenic potential of HA. Results indicated that higher crystallinity in HA ceramics enhanced mechanical strength and hardness while reducing surface roughness, hydrophilicity, and protein affinity. Cytological studies revealed that decreased crystallinity led to lower cell proliferation rates but facilitated cell adhesion, spreading, and increased expression of osteogenic genes. Moreover, cell experiments with extracts further supported the significant role of surface properties of HA ceramics in modulating cell behavior. In vivo osteogenic assays demonstrated that reduced crystallinity notably stimulated new bone formation. Overall, by integrating the results of in vitro and in vivo experiments, it can be concluded that reducing the crystallinity of HA ceramics, the biological properties of HA ceramics can be significantly enhanced while maintaining a certain level of mechanical strength, such as HA2 group (42 % crystallinity). This study highlights the substantial impact of crystallinity and surface characteristics of HA ceramics on cell behavior, offering valuable insights and strategies for enhancing and optimizing bone repair materials in future applications.

Effects of sintering temperature on the physical, structural, mechanical and antimicrobial properties of extracted hydroxyapatite ceramics from Anabas testudineus bone and head scull for biomedical applications

In this experimental investigation, Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is extracted from bone and head scull of Anabas testudineus by thermal calcination at 800 °C for 5 h under ambient air conditions. Ceramic samples were prepared through compaction and followed by sintering at 1200 °C, 1250 °C, and 1300 °C temperatures for 2 h from the calcined HAp powder. Both the calcined powder and sintered ceramic samples were characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to explore the potentiality of the extracted ceramics for biomedical applications. Moreover, the elemental composition, phase structure, compressive strength, Vicker hardness, and antimicrobial characteristics of the ceramic samples have been investigated. The XRD analysis confirmed the presence of hydroxyapatite in both the calcined powder and ceramic samples. Various types of trace elements were observed in HAp ceramics including a noteworthy 1.57 atomic percent of magnesium (Mg). Additionally, the XRD spectrum indicated the existence of the β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) phase. Upon sintering at a temperature of 1250 °C, the ceramic sample underwent a phase shift to α-TCP. Our results show that the phase transition has a significant effect on the crystallinity of HAp. The ceramics sample sintered at 1300 °C exhibited the highest compressive strength and Vicker Hardness due to its high relative density, well-packed grains, and larger particle size. The sintered sample did not exhibit notable zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

Histomorphological assessment of the germanium-doped calcium phosphate ceramics on reparative osteogenesis in rabbits with systemic osteoporosis

Bone fractures are mostly urgent in nature, complex in pathogenetic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects, and reparative osteogenesis is multimodal and depends on the balanced and reciprocal interaction of many factors. The results of histological studies for osteoreplacement of bone defects in rabbits with systemic osteoporosis are presented. The purpose of the work is histomorphological evaluation of bone regenerates after osteoreplacement with germanium-doped hydroxyapatite ceramics in rabbits with secondary osteoporosis. Experimental osteoporosis in rabbits (n=18) was induced by administration of 0.4% dexamethasone solution. In animals of the experimental group, bone defects were replaced with granules of hydroxyapatite ceramics doped with germanium, and in animals of the control group, they healed under a blood clot. Histological sections were made on a rotary microtome with a thickness of 5 to 10 μm and stained with Weigert's iron hematoxylin and 1% alcohol-based eosin solution (manufactured by Diapath, Italy). On the 60th day of reparative osteogenesis in the animals of the experimental group, the site of the bone defect was flled with compact bone tissue with minor remnants of spongy bone tissue. Slightly expanded Haversian canals were noted. In the control group, the defect site was flled with coarse and spongy bone tissue. Bone beams of various thicknesses with a small number of osteoblasts and single walled osteocytes were visualized. A signifcant number of osteocyte lacunae were empty due to the process of osteocyte lysis. Haversian canals are signifcantly dilated with a small number of vessels. Also, lacunae of bone tissue resorption and acellular areas were observed on histological specimens. Histomorphological assessment of bone regenerates confrms the realization of osteoconductive, osteointegrative and osteoinductive properties of calcium-phosphate ceramics doped with germanium in conditions of osteoporotic fractures of tubular bones. Keywords: systemic osteoporosis, bone fractures, cancellous and compact bone tissue, histological sections, histomorphological changes, rabbits.

Self-sacrificing template synthesis of ultralight porous hydroxyapatite microtube-based ceramics for hemoglobin adsorption

Strong and porous hydroxyapatite ceramics are highly desired for biomedical materials. However, 1D hydroxyapatite crystals with enhanced bioactivity, densification, and sinterability are limited in practical application for self-agglomeration and unfavorable 3D morphology. Herein, a sacrificed template approach is developed to prepare ultralight porous hydroxyapatite microtube-based ceramics (HMTC). First, hydroxyapatite microtubes (HMTs) are self-assembled proceeding from nanowires to microtubes through a solvothermal reaction. Then, HMTs are shaped into 3D columns by using chitosan aerogel as a template and sintered at 1300 °C to obtain ultralight porous ceramics. The chitosan template considerably contributes to constructing the macro-meso-microporous architecture of HMTC, thereby benefiting the loading capacity, biomolecule migration, cell proliferation, and other biomedical applications. HMTC exhibits ultralight weight but excellent compressive resistance to bear objects weighing hundreds of times more. HMTC exhibits a high adsorption capacity (311 mg g−1) towards bovine hemoglobin (BHb) at the pH near pI by the driving force of ionic interaction and hydrophobic interaction. The adsorption kinetics and fixed-bed adsorption confirm that the physisorption process is controlled by the intraparticle diffusion of BHb. The excellent protein adsorption performance and good recyclability demonstrate the biological availability of HMTC.

Hindrances and solutions on the path towards adjoined barium titanate–hydroxyapatite ceramics with uncompromised piezoelectric and biological responses

The synergistic piezoelectric and osteoconductive properties of barium titanate (BT) and hydroxyapatite (HA) could stir the development of a new generation of synthetic bone graft substitutes, with capability for rapid and safe osseointegration. The research focused on two concurrent approaches for coupling the BT and HA materials: (i) conventional sintering of BT-HA powder mixtures; and (ii) functionalization of pre-sintered BT with HA coatings using magnetron sputtering (MS). Irrespective of the BT/HA ratios ranging from 95/5 to 80/20 wt%, nanocrystalline or highly-crystallized nature of the powders, sub-micron- or micron-sized particle dimensions, and sintering temperature, it was observed that the BT-HA reactivity cannot be prevented above 800 °C. At higher temperatures in the range of 1000–1300 °C, HA undergoes decomposition and extensively reacts with BT, leading to the formation of several secondary phases such as CaTiO3, Ba2Ca(PO4)2, BaCa6(PO4)4O, BaCa(PO3)4, and β-Ca2P2O7. As a consequence, the cytocompatibility assessed in fibroblast and osteoblast cell cultures, as well as the piezoelectric response, were significantly altered.Applying HA coatings by MS to the sintered BT ceramics successfully preserved their piezoelectric properties, while also providing an unaltered cytocompatible and osteogenic-prone surface. The HA coatings were fully crystallized at post-deposition annealing temperatures of 550 and 700 °C, achieving crystalline qualities comparable to HA powders sintered at 1100 and 1200 °C, respectively. No reactivity events between BT and HA were observed. Partial reactivity was only noticeable upon annealing at 1000 °C. Therefore, it is suggested that the HA coating of BT is effective in seamlessly coupling the piezoelectric and osteogenic properties of the two constituents without compromise.

Hydroxyapatite ceramic-coated femoral components in younger patients followed up for 27 to 32 years.

This study reports the results of 38 total hip arthroplasties (THAs) in 33 patients aged less than 50 years, using the JRI Furlong hydroxyapatite ceramic (HAC)-coated femoral component. We describe the survival, radiological, and functional outcomes of 33 patients (38 THAs) at a mean follow-up of 27 years (25 to 32) between 1988 and 2018. Of the surviving 30 patients (34 THAs), there were four periprosthetic fractures: one underwent femoral revision after 21 years, two had surgical fixation as the stem was deemed stable, and one was treated nonoperatively due to the patient's comorbidities. The periprosthetic fracture patients showed radiological evidence of change in bone stock around the femoral stem, which may have contributed to the fractures; this was reflected in change of the canal flare index at the proximal femur. Two patients (two hips) were lost to follow-up. Using aseptic loosening as the endpoint, 16 patients (18 hips; 48%) needed acetabular revision. None of the femoral components were revised for aseptic loosening, demonstrating 100% survival. The estimate of the cumulative proportion surviving for revisions due to any cause was 0.97 (standard error 0.03). In young patients with high demands, the Furlong HAC-coated femoral component gives excellent long-term results.

Unraveling the structural complexity of and the effect of calcination temperature on calcium phosphates derived from Oreochromis niloticus bones

In this study, the interplay between the structural complexity, microstructure, and mechanical properties of calcium phosphates (CaPs) derived from fish bones, prepared at various calcination temperatures, and their corresponding sintered ceramics was explored. Fourier-transform infrared analysis revealed that the calcined powders primarily consisted of hydroxyapatite (HAp) and carbonated calcium hydroxyapatite, with an increasing concentration of Mg-substituted β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) as the calcination temperature was increased. X-ray diffraction patterns showed enhanced sharpness of the peaks at higher temperatures, indicating a larger crystallite size and improved crystallinity. The ceramics exhibited a significantly larger crystallite size and an increased concentration of the β-TCP phase. Rietveld analysis revealed a larger volume of the β-TCP phase in the ceramics than in their calcined powders; this could be attributed to a newly formed β-TCP phase due to the decomposition of HAp. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis revealed the incorporation of Mg in the Ca2 site of HAp, Ca2 site of β-TCP, and Ca5 site of β-TCP, with a higher substitution of Mg in the Ca5 site of β-TCP at elevated temperatures. The mechanical properties of HAp ceramics can be improved by increasing the calcination temperature because of their improved relative density and dense porous structure at elevated temperatures. This comprehensive investigation sheds light on the phase evolution, microstructural changes, and consequential impact on the mechanical properties of CaPs derived from fish bones, thereby facilitating the development of tailored CaP ceramics for biomedical applications.

Synthesis and characterisations of clinoptilolite enriched hydroxyapatite nanoceramics by sol-gel route for bone regeneration

Hydroxyapatite (HA) has great bioactive potential in bone tissue engineering (BTE). However, the high crystalline stability of synthetic HA restricts its in-vivo bioresorbability which extends the healing time of bone defects. This study investigates doping HA with biocompatible Clinoptilolite (CLP) mineral rich in silicate and other biomimetic ions (Na+, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2 etc.). Sol-gel-based CLP doped HA nanoceramics are aimed to be exploited as bone filler substitutes with biomimetic morphology, composition, and improved biocompatibility and bioactivity. The pure and CLP (5%, 10% and 20%) doped HA ceramics were synthesised by sol-gel method to provide molecular level interactions of ions and sintered at different temperatures (800 °C, 950 °C, and 1100 °C). Morphological analyses by SEM and S-TEM showed biomimetic nano rod-like HA particles are attached to dispersed CLP sheets. Sintering of composite ceramics led to a cell-friendly interconnected porous microstructure even at 1100 °C, where the pure HA had a compact non-porous structure. The Ca/P ratio of CLP-doped HA samples was lower than the stoichiometric HA which indicates a partial reduction of stability that is supposed to induce bioresorption capacity. Cytotoxicity tests by WST-8 with Saos-2 cell lines showed that CLP addition into HA has significantly improved cell viability. The HA-CLP nanoceramics are expected to promote bone regeneration due to cell-friendly microstructure and biomimetic composition which can be supported by further in-vivo clinical studies.

Induced porous structure with a slight change in mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite-based nanocomposites synthesized from waste bovine bone and their bioactivity

Porous hydroxyapatite (HAp) ceramics have been widely used in several biomedical applications. However, efforts to enhance the porous structure in HAp ceramics often lead to a decline in their mechanical properties. In the present study, by adding a small amount of aluminum nitride (AlN) nanoparticles to HAp ceramics, we achieved the formation of porous HAp with a slight change in grain size and mechanical properties. The starting powder of the HAp was obtained from a natural source of bovine bone. The HAp/xAlN nanocomposites were fabricated by a simple conventional technique. The 0.06 mol% AlN-added sample (HAp/0.06AlN) presented the maximum mechanical properties (Vickers hardness = 3.68 GPa, elastic modulus = 94.04 GPa, and fracture toughness = 0.97 MPa∙m1/2) with favorable porosity. Simulated body fluid and cell viability assays showed that all the studied nanocomposites possessed desirable bioactivity with high cell viability. The HAp/0.06AlN samples were coated with antimicrobial agents. The samples coated with silver nitrate (AgNO3) had high antibacterial efficiency against S. aureus (66.2%) and P.aeruginosa (67.3%). Based on the obtained results, the nanocomposites exhibited promising potential for development and utilization in biomedical applications.

Understanding the consolidation mechanism of selective laser sintering/powder bed selective laser process of ceramics: Hydroxyapatite case

PurposeThe consolidation process and morphology evolution in ceramics-based additive manufacturing (AM) are still not well-understood. As a way to better understand the ceramic selective laser sintering (SLS), a dynamic three-dimensional computational model was developed to forecast thermal behavior of hydroxyapatite (HA) bioceramic.Design/methodology/approachAM has revolutionized automotive, biomedical and aerospace industries, among many others. AM provides design and geometric freedom, rapid product customization and manufacturing flexibility through its layer-by-layer technique. However, a very limited number of materials are printable because of rapid melting and solidification hysteresis. Melting-solidification dynamics in powder bed fusion are usually correlated with welding, often ignoring the intrinsic properties of the laser irradiation; unsurprisingly, the printable materials are mostly the well-known weldable materials.FindingsThe consolidation mechanism of HA was identified during its processing in a ceramic SLS device, then the effect of the laser energy density was studied to see how it affects the processing window. Premature sintering and sintering regimes were revealed and elaborated in detail. The full consolidation beyond sintering was also revealed along with its interaction to baseplate.Originality/valueThese findings provide important insight into the consolidation mechanism of HA ceramics, which will be the cornerstone for extending the range of materials in laser powder bed fusion of ceramics.

Azoximer bromide and hydroxyapatite: promising immune adjuvants in cancer.

Immune adjuvants are immune modulators that have been developed in the context of infectious vaccinations. There is currently a growing interest in immune adjuvants due to the development of immunotherapy against cancers. Immune adjuvant mechanisms of action are focused on the initiation and amplification of the inflammatory response leading to the innate immune response, followed by the adaptive immune response. The main activity lies in the support of antigen presentation and the maturation and functions of dendritic cells. Most immune adjuvants are associated with a vaccine or incorporated into the new generation of mRNA vaccines. Few immune adjuvants are used as drugs. Hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramics and azoximer bromide (AZB) are overlooked molecules that were used in early clinical trials, which demonstrated clinical efficacy and excellent tolerance profiles. HA combined in an autologous vaccine was previously developed in the veterinary field for use in canine spontaneous lymphomas. AZB, an original immune modulator derived from a class of heterochain aliphatic polyamines that is licensed in Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and Slovakia for infectious and inflammatory diseases, is and now being developed for use in cancer with promising results. These two immune adjuvants can be combined in various immunotherapy strategies.

Material Design of Porous Hydroxyapatite Ceramics via Inverse Analysis of an Estimation Model for Bone-Forming Ability Based on Machine Learning and Experimental Validation of Biological Hard Tissue Responses.

Hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate have been clinically applied as artificial bone materials due to their high biocompatibility. The development of artificial bones requires the verification of safety and efficacy through animal experiments; however, from the viewpoint of animal welfare, it is necessary to reduce the number of animal experiments. In this study, we utilized machine learning to construct a model that estimates the bone-forming ability of bioceramics from material fabrication conditions, material properties, and in vivo experimental conditions. We succeeded in constructing two models: 'Model 1', which predicts material properties from their fabrication conditions, and 'Model 2', which predicts the bone-formation rate from material properties and in vivo experimental conditions. The inclusion of full width at half maximum (FWHM) in the feature of Model 2 showed an improvement in accuracy. Furthermore, the results of the feature importance showed that the FWHMs were the most important. By an inverse analysis of the two models, we proposed candidates for material fabrication conditions to achieve target values of the bone-formation rate. Under the proposed conditions, the material properties of the fabricated material were consistent with the estimated material properties. Furthermore, a comparison between bone-formation rates after 12 weeks of implantation in the porcine tibia and the estimated bone-formation rate. This result showed that the actual bone-formation rates existed within the error range of the estimated bone-formation rates, indicating that machine learning consistently predicts the results of animal experiments using material fabrication conditions. We believe that these findings will lead to the establishment of alternative animal experiments to replace animal experiments in the development of artificial bones.

Outcomes of a hydroxyapatite ceramic-coated femoral stem in primary total hip arthroplasty: a report of excellent survivorship from a single United Kingdom centre.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) coated femoral stems were introduced to enhance the biological fixation at the implant-bone interface, aiming to increase the longevity and survival of the prostheses. We aimed to assess the long-term outcomes of an HA ceramic (HAC) coated stem in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), assess the stem survival, and clinically evaluate the patients using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and radiological evaluation of stem osseointegration. This was a prospective evaluation of a retrospective cohort of 385 patients (442 hips) who underwent primary THA between June 2008 and December 2018. The mean age was 63.83 years (range, 30-82years). During the follow-up duration, 23 patients died, and 36 patients (38 hips) were lost to follow-up. Prospective data collected for 326 patients (381 hips) was used to evaluate stem survival with the Kaplan-Meier method using aseptic loosening or any revision as the endpoint. Clinical evaluation was done using the EuroQol five-dimension (EQ-5D) scoring system and PROMs using the Oxford Hip Score (OHS) and Merle D'Aubigne Postel (MDP) score. Radiological assessments were performed using the Engh radiological criteria for stem osteointegration. The mean follow-up duration was 9.39 years (range, 4-14.5 years). The survival of the HAC-coated femoral stem was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 96.7-100%) at 14 years with aseptic loosening as the endpoint, and 98.9% (CI, 96.7-100%) at 14 years with stem revision for any reason as the endpoint. The mean OHS was 44.5 (range, 30-48), and the mean MDP score was 15.87 (range, 10-18). Radiological evaluations showed full osseointegration of all stems. This HAC-coated femoral stem has shown excellent survivorship, functional outcomes, and full osseointegration at the final follow-up.

Magnesium-enhanced porous hydroxyapatite ceramics: Morphometric parameters, physical properties and bioactivity

The application of porous bioactive ceramics as bone substitutes requires their effective osseointegration, which relies on specific physical and biological properties. In this study, we developed porous magnesium-doped hydroxyapatite (MgHA) ceramics with four different magnesium concentrations (0.25, 2, 5 and 10 mol%). The ceramics were prepared through the polymeric replication sponge method and subjected to physical and biological characterizations. Upon sintering, the porous 10 mol% MgHA ceramics exhibited increased densification, which resulted in the highest compressive strength of 2.17 MPa at the lowest porosity of 31 %.The porous samples were analysed via microcomputed tomography. The scaffolds with 0.25 and 10 mol% Mg doping concentrations were selected to elucidate the influence of Mg on morphometric parameters and biological properties at two distinct levels. The high level of Mg doping led to considerable improvements in relative bone volume, connectivity density, trabecular number and trabecular thickness. Cell attachment and proliferation tests using Vero cell lines were conducted on both samples to investigate the correlations between their morphometric parameters and bioactivities. Substantially more cells attached to and proliferated on the surface of the 10 mol% MgHA ceramics compared with those on the ceramics containing 0.25 mol% MgHA. In summary, our study underscores the effectiveness of Mg incorporation in improving the physical and biological properties of porous HA ceramics, which makes them promising candidates for bone substitute applications.

Research progress on biodegradable magnesium phosphate ceramics in orthopaedic applications.

To overcome critical size bone defects, calcium phosphate (CaP)-based ceramics have been widely explored. The compositional similarity with bone matrix and degradability are the main reasons for their selection in orthopaedic biomaterials. However, the low solubility rate under in vivo conditions raises concerns about these CaP groups, particularly hydroxyapatite (HA) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramics. Therefore, reliable and suitable degradable ceramics for bone defect repair are always an important research direction for researchers. The magnesium phosphate (MgP) group of bioceramics has been studied for orthopaedic applications and is comparatively new compared to traditional CaP ceramics. The role of magnesium in different biochemical processes, such as DNA stabilization, bone density maintenance, regulating Ca and Na ion channels, and cell proliferation and differentiation enhancement, is a key parameter for the development of MgP bioceramics. This article aims to give a comprehensive review of MgP ceramics in bone tissue engineering. Here, we have highlighted several preparation techniques, the existence of porosity, and the impact of metal ion doping on MgP bioceramics. Finally, in vitro and in vivo responses of MgP bioceramics in bone formation are discussed.

Assessing hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as a new evaluation method for studying protein adsorption on anisotropic hydroxyapatite ceramics model

Assessing hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as a new evaluation method for studying protein adsorption on anisotropic hydroxyapatite ceramics model

Densification of transparent hydroxyapatite ceramics via cold sintering process combined with biomineralization

We report for the first time transparent hydroxyapatite (HAp) ceramics densified using a cold sintering process and biomineralization. Under a uniaxial pressure of 800 MPa at 180 °C, granular HAp nanoparticles mixed with simulated body fluid were densified up to 98.5% relative density. During the densification, pseudo-biomineralization occurred among the HAp nanoparticles, leading to the precipitation of a new HAp phase. Additionally, the transformation of granular HAp nanoparticles into nearly circular grains produced fine microstructures with uniform and nanosized grains, reducing light scattering. As a result, the transmittance of 81.6% at λ = 550 nm was achieved. Transparent HAp exhibited Vickers hardness (3.88 ± 0.22 GPa), fracture toughness (0.62 ± 0.03 MPa·m1/2), biaxial flexural strength (41.69 ± 1.23 MPa), and Young's modulus (78.1 ± 2.04 GPa). These findings will pave the way for the fabrication and potential applications of transparent ceramics at low temperatures.