Abstract
The author devised new bone defect fillers(BDFs).Briefly, mixtures of α-tricalcium phosphate(α-TCP)-chitosan or α-TCP-alginate with accelerator were kneaded.These materials would be an excellent filling for bone defects, because of their plastic, insoluble and easily absorbable properties.With an increased amount of α-TCP or an accelerator, both chitosan-BDF and alginate-BDF showed greater compressive stregth and the time required to solidify was shortened.The BDFs were insoluble in a saline solution and their resistance to compression gradually weakened over time in solution.The BDFs were implanted in femurs.The tissues around chitosan-BDF became moderately inflamed and the material was well absorbed and ossified including the BDF itself.Alginate-BDF also induced a slight inflammation and bone formation.However.encapsulation was seen.These two BDFs would be easily available and showed good mechanical properties.Especially, chitosan-BDF may be more promising because of its rapid ossification.
