HYDROXYAPATITE CERAMICS FOR MEDICAL APPLICATION PREPARED BY HYDROTHEMAL METHOD

Abstract

The hydrothermal method enables us to prepare well crystallized, compositionally homogeneous, uniform and easily sinterable powders due to the effects of the high temperature-high pressure aqueous solutions. This method was applied for preparation of hydroxyapatite ceramics as biomaterials. Hydroxyapatite dense ceramics prepared by the sintering method using HIP or SPS from nano-sized single crystals showed transparency. Transparent hydroxyapatite ceramics enabled the direct observation of living cells. Hydroxyapatite porous ceramics and granules with tailored crystal surface were prepared by the hydrothermal vapor exposure method at temperatures below 200 °C. Porous ceramics and granules of hydroxyapatite with controlled crystal surface should be suitable for bone-repairing materials, for scaffold of cultured bone, for bone graft material and for drug delivery system (DDS). They should have the advantage of adsorptive activity and osteoconductivity in comparison with the conventional sintered hydroxyapatite materials with random crystal surface.