Abstract
In order to develop bioactive “tailor-made” materials with desired properties for each patient, two kinds of materials have been created. These are as follows: (i) hydroxyapatite (HAp)/polymer hybrids with mechanical properties similar to those of cortical bone, and (ii) HAp/tricalcium phosphate (TCP)-coated high-strength materials with a porous structure which enables bone ingrowth into the pores. From in vivo evaluation using a rabbit model, it was observed that the above-mentioned materials showed a bioactivity response, that is, the implant materials directly bonded to living bone. We performed an in vitro evaluation using osteoblast cells to help understand the reasons for bioactivityin the in vivo model. The results of in vitro evaluation showed that the two kinds of bioactive materials induce excellent cellular response, including the ability differentiate cells into osteoblasts. This may be the reason for the bioactive response observed in vivo.
