In vivo evaluation of porous beta-tricalcium phosphate ceramics with bi-model pore structure using a transgenic-cloned pig expressing red fluorescent protein, Kusabira-Orange

Abstract

Porous beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) ceramics with bi-model pore structure were fabricated by firing calcium-phosphate fiber compacts mixed with carbon beads. We examined the biocompatibility of the resulting porous beta-TCP ceramics using a transgenic-cloned pig carrying a gene for the red fluorescent protein, humanized Kusabira-Orange (huKO). The porous beta-TCP ceramics were implanted into tibia of a transgenic-cloned pig for 6 weeks, and then the frozen tissue sections were prepared for histological evaluations. The newly-formed bone was present inside pores of the porous beta-TCP ceramics. We concluded that the porous beta-TCP ceramics with bi-model pore structure have an excellent osteoconductivity.