Ceramics used for medical purposes are known as bioceramics, such as hydroxyaptite (HA), which is one of the most well studied bioceramics because of its similar composition to human bone and also good biocompatibility, is bioactive and has excellent osteoconductivity. In addition many properties of HA can be improved by the addition of specific elements into its structure. The research in this thesis investigates the substitution of some selected elements into the structure of HA and subsequent characterisation in terms of physical, mechanical and biological responses. Si/S-HA and Sr/B/S-HA was obtained from Lucideon and Ho/HA was synthesised in house. Initially a cell response to a variety of element oxides was performed to identify elements to avoid or potentially use for substitution. Dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), holmium (Ho) and praseodymium (Pr) at 100 ppm showed better results for alkaline phosphatase activity than 25 ppm in culture medium.2.5 and 5 mol.% of Ho was substituted into HA structure using a wet chemical method of synthesis. The samples were sintered at 1200°C for 10 hours. There was high crystallinity when 2.5 mol.% of Ho was added into the HA structure. Substitution of Ho in HA structure had the effect of shortening in a axis and elongation in c axis along with the higher concentration of Ho ion.2 mol.% of Si and S was also substituted into HA structure, where both elements Si and S replace PO4 site in HA structure. Si substituted in SiO4 form and S substituted in SO4 form for PO4 as confirmed by FT-IR results. Osteoblast-like cells cultured on Si/S-HA showed an increase in alkaline phosphatase, collagen type I and ostecalcin on samples sintered at high temperature. Sr/B/S-HA was also made where 2 mol.% of each element was substituted into the HA structure. The best condition of sintering temperature for Sr/B/S-HA was 1100°C for 10 hrs due to the resulting small grain size, improved cell adhesion and more collagen and osteocalcin production. These results suggest that the substitution of elements into the HA structure can provide novel bioceramics for control of physical mechanical and cell responses properties.

No description available.

Since the early 1970's there have been a number of investigations into the preparation of dense sintered hydroxyapatite for medical applications. However, there have been few studies reporting the production of sintered carbonate apatite, which resembles more closely the composition of human bone mineral. This work has studied the precipitation, processing and sintering of carbonate apatites. Crystallisation variables such as temperature and bicarbonate ion concentration have been investigated in order to determine some effects on the size, morphology and composition of carbonate apatite precipitates. By employing the correct conditions, nanoscale precipitates have been produced that have enabled the use of a colloidal filtration route in processing. The effect of sintering atmosphere, green density, and carbonate content were investigated isochronally over a range of temperatures. Isothermal experiments demonstrated the evolution of microstructure and changes in density with time. Results from this study indicated that translucent 99.9% relative density carbonated hydroxyapatite could be produced by sintering in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide and water. Water was found to enhance densification in carbon dioxide furnace atmospheres. The temperature at which maximum densification occurred decreased with carbonate content. Bloating was found to be related to carbonate content as larger expansions were observed in higher carbonate content materials. The partial pressure of water did not effect the composition of the carbonate apatite, whereas the green composition did, contrary to the findings of other workers.

The silicon complexes in silicon doped calcium phosphate bioceramics have been studied using $^{29}$Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The replacement of phosphorus by silicon in these materials requires a charge compensation mechanism which is difficult to study by many experimental techniques due to the small amount of silicon added. Producing these materials using an isotopically enriched source of silicon made the use of NMR spectroscopy feasible. Three different materials have been studied: a multiphase material commercially available under the trade name Skelite$^{\rm TM}$ composed of predominantly a silicon stabilized $\alpha$-tricalcium phosphate ($\alpha$-TCP) phase as well as a silicon doped hydroxyapatite (HA) phase, a single phase Si-HA material and a single phase silicon stabilized $\alpha$-TCP material. Slight changes to the material production method were first introduced to accommodate the switch to an isotopically enriched silicon source. Characterization of the enriched materials was carried out using Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction spectra and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to confirm that these materials were similar to the previously studied, non-enriched, materials in terms of the silicon contents, Ca/(P+Si) molar ratios and lattice parameters. NMR Spectroscopy showed that in all three materials, the silicon formed Q$^1$ structures in which two silicate tetrahedra joined together by sharing an oxygen, creating an oxygen vacancy which compensated the substitution of two silicon for phosphorus. This is the first observation of this charge compensation mechanism in Si-HA and may explain the interesting phase evolution previously found in the system studied in this work in which the Si-HA transforms to silicon stabilized $\alpha$-TCP upon sintering. / Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2007-12-18 14:45:38.721

No description available.

A modern approach to the treatment of localized disease involves the use of advanced polymeric or ceramic implant materials for controlled-rate drug delivery. These implants are dynamic systems that maintain drug concentrations within the optimal therapeutic window via complex hydration, swelling, and degradation processes. To optimize the performance of these materials, however, requires a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms that govern drug release. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a means of non-invasively characterizing the microstructure and transport properties in this type of material, and has proven to be an invaluable tool for their advancement. Calcium polyphosphate (CPP) is a biomaterial that has shown promise as a degradable matrix for drug delivery and bone defect repair. Release rates are potentially governed by hydrogelation, swelling, and polymer chain scission. CPP bioceramics have previously been studied using models for drug elution, but these tend to be simplistic and unable to explain the many interrelated mechanisms. Structural analysis techniques have also been applied, but these tend to be inherently destructive and unable to characterize the material in situ. With the aim of characterizing degradation/drug release mechanisms, a non-invasive approach based on MRI was developed and optimized for imaging two existing types of CPP device. Techniques included mapping of the T1 and T2 relaxation times and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), which together provide sensitivity to local fluid transport parameters. The non-destructive nature of MRI permitted longitudinal observation, and structural degradation effects were investigated by correlation with concurrent drug elution measurements. Temporal variation in the release mechanisms was treated by analyzing elution in stages. Large variation between samples was found, but on average, drug elution that was controlled by a structural-relaxation mechanism appeared correlated with the gradual formation of a highly-mobile ``free'' water component within the disk. Other characteristics, such as swelling rate, did not appear to correlate with drug release at all. While the data did not implicate a singular, governing scheme for drug release from CPP bioceramics, the approach did yield an assessment of the relative importance of the various contributing mechanisms.

Biocerâmicas porosas são utilizadas para que se forneça local para o tecido ósseo crescer e fixar o implante biologicamente. Foi utilizada hidroxiapatita (HA), que é uma cerâmica bioativa e permite o crescimento de tecido ósseo e revascularização da área de implante pela ligação química estabelecida entre a fase mineral dos ossos com a hidroxiapatita sintética. Este estudo teve como objetivo a obtenção de blocos porosos de hidroxiapatita através do método gelcasting de espumas, utilizando matérias-primas nacionais e sem o uso de atmosfera controlada. A hidroxiapatita utilizada nesse trabalho foi obtida com um método inovador com a utilização de defloculantes. O método gelcasting de espumas consiste na incorporação de uma fase gasosa dispersa dentro de uma suspensão cerâmica contendo o pó cerâmico, água, defloculantes, ligantes e agentes de gelificação. Após a formação de espuma o gel é formado pela polimerização in situ de monômeros orgânicos e o controle do tempo de indução é primordial para a obtenção de porosidade controlada. Foram estudados os efeitos da quantidade de surfactante, do teor de sólidos e do tempo de indução na microestrutura e nas propriedades físicas da hidroxiapatita. Avaliou-se o volume de espuma formado, a viscosidade das suspensões, a resistência mecânica à compressão, a superfície de fratura, a densidade e porosidade, fases cristalinas e grupos químicos, assim como a permeabilidade das peças porosas. Foram realizados ensaios in vitro e in vivo para verificar o comportamento do material quando implantado. Obteve-se porosidade máxima de cerca de 87,5% para o teor de 60% de sólidos. Foram obtidos blocos porosos de hidroxiapatita pelo método gelcasting com tamanho de poros controlado, potencialmente aptos para uso em medicina e odontologia como implantes ósseos reparadores de defeitos ósseos em locais onde a solicitação mecânica seja baixa. / Porous bioceramics are used as a place where bone tissue can grow and fix implants biologically. In this work, hydroxyapatite (HA) was used. It is a bioactive ceramic which allows the growth of bone tissue and revascularization of implant area by the formation of a chemical bond between bones mineral phase and synthetic hydroxyapatite. The aim of this work is to obtain hydroxyapatite porous blocks through the gelcasting foams method, using national’s raw materials and without the atmosphere control. The HA used in this work was obtained by a new method which consists in the addiction of a defloculant. The gelcasting foams method consists in the incorporation of gaseous phase in a ceramic suspension containing the ceramic material, water, defloculants, binders and gelling agents. After the foam formation, the material turns in to a gel by the in situ polymerization of the organic monomers. The control of the induction time is very important to control the porosity. The effect of surfactant amounts, of the solids content and of the induction time in the hydroxyapatite microstructure and physical properties was studied. Also there was evaluated the in vitro and in vivo comportment of the produced porous hydroxyapatite foams. The amount of foam produced, the viscosity of suspensions, compression mechanical strength, fracture surface, apparent density, porosity, permeability, crystalline phases and chemical groups were evaluated. A maximal porosity of about 87.5% was obtained for a solids content of 60%. Obtained materials have a potential use as bone implants in both medical and odontological applications as bone defects repairers in places where low mechanical strengths were required.

Biocerâmicas porosas são utilizadas para que se forneça local para o tecido ósseo crescer e fixar o implante biologicamente. Foi utilizada hidroxiapatita (HA), que é uma cerâmica bioativa e permite o crescimento de tecido ósseo e revascularização da área de implante pela ligação química estabelecida entre a fase mineral dos ossos com a hidroxiapatita sintética. Este estudo teve como objetivo a obtenção de blocos porosos de hidroxiapatita através do método gelcasting de espumas, utilizando matérias-primas nacionais e sem o uso de atmosfera controlada. A hidroxiapatita utilizada nesse trabalho foi obtida com um método inovador com a utilização de defloculantes. O método gelcasting de espumas consiste na incorporação de uma fase gasosa dispersa dentro de uma suspensão cerâmica contendo o pó cerâmico, água, defloculantes, ligantes e agentes de gelificação. Após a formação de espuma o gel é formado pela polimerização in situ de monômeros orgânicos e o controle do tempo de indução é primordial para a obtenção de porosidade controlada. Foram estudados os efeitos da quantidade de surfactante, do teor de sólidos e do tempo de indução na microestrutura e nas propriedades físicas da hidroxiapatita. Avaliou-se o volume de espuma formado, a viscosidade das suspensões, a resistência mecânica à compressão, a superfície de fratura, a densidade e porosidade, fases cristalinas e grupos químicos, assim como a permeabilidade das peças porosas. Foram realizados ensaios in vitro e in vivo para verificar o comportamento do material quando implantado. Obteve-se porosidade máxima de cerca de 87,5% para o teor de 60% de sólidos. Foram obtidos blocos porosos de hidroxiapatita pelo método gelcasting com tamanho de poros controlado, potencialmente aptos para uso em medicina e odontologia como implantes ósseos reparadores de defeitos ósseos em locais onde a solicitação mecânica seja baixa. / Porous bioceramics are used as a place where bone tissue can grow and fix implants biologically. In this work, hydroxyapatite (HA) was used. It is a bioactive ceramic which allows the growth of bone tissue and revascularization of implant area by the formation of a chemical bond between bones mineral phase and synthetic hydroxyapatite. The aim of this work is to obtain hydroxyapatite porous blocks through the gelcasting foams method, using national’s raw materials and without the atmosphere control. The HA used in this work was obtained by a new method which consists in the addiction of a defloculant. The gelcasting foams method consists in the incorporation of gaseous phase in a ceramic suspension containing the ceramic material, water, defloculants, binders and gelling agents. After the foam formation, the material turns in to a gel by the in situ polymerization of the organic monomers. The control of the induction time is very important to control the porosity. The effect of surfactant amounts, of the solids content and of the induction time in the hydroxyapatite microstructure and physical properties was studied. Also there was evaluated the in vitro and in vivo comportment of the produced porous hydroxyapatite foams. The amount of foam produced, the viscosity of suspensions, compression mechanical strength, fracture surface, apparent density, porosity, permeability, crystalline phases and chemical groups were evaluated. A maximal porosity of about 87.5% was obtained for a solids content of 60%. Obtained materials have a potential use as bone implants in both medical and odontological applications as bone defects repairers in places where low mechanical strengths were required.

Biocerâmicas porosas são utilizadas para que se forneça local para o tecido ósseo crescer e fixar o implante biologicamente. Foi utilizada hidroxiapatita (HA), que é uma cerâmica bioativa e permite o crescimento de tecido ósseo e revascularização da área de implante pela ligação química estabelecida entre a fase mineral dos ossos com a hidroxiapatita sintética. Este estudo teve como objetivo a obtenção de blocos porosos de hidroxiapatita através do método gelcasting de espumas, utilizando matérias-primas nacionais e sem o uso de atmosfera controlada. A hidroxiapatita utilizada nesse trabalho foi obtida com um método inovador com a utilização de defloculantes. O método gelcasting de espumas consiste na incorporação de uma fase gasosa dispersa dentro de uma suspensão cerâmica contendo o pó cerâmico, água, defloculantes, ligantes e agentes de gelificação. Após a formação de espuma o gel é formado pela polimerização in situ de monômeros orgânicos e o controle do tempo de indução é primordial para a obtenção de porosidade controlada. Foram estudados os efeitos da quantidade de surfactante, do teor de sólidos e do tempo de indução na microestrutura e nas propriedades físicas da hidroxiapatita. Avaliou-se o volume de espuma formado, a viscosidade das suspensões, a resistência mecânica à compressão, a superfície de fratura, a densidade e porosidade, fases cristalinas e grupos químicos, assim como a permeabilidade das peças porosas. Foram realizados ensaios in vitro e in vivo para verificar o comportamento do material quando implantado. Obteve-se porosidade máxima de cerca de 87,5% para o teor de 60% de sólidos. Foram obtidos blocos porosos de hidroxiapatita pelo método gelcasting com tamanho de poros controlado, potencialmente aptos para uso em medicina e odontologia como implantes ósseos reparadores de defeitos ósseos em locais onde a solicitação mecânica seja baixa. / Porous bioceramics are used as a place where bone tissue can grow and fix implants biologically. In this work, hydroxyapatite (HA) was used. It is a bioactive ceramic which allows the growth of bone tissue and revascularization of implant area by the formation of a chemical bond between bones mineral phase and synthetic hydroxyapatite. The aim of this work is to obtain hydroxyapatite porous blocks through the gelcasting foams method, using national’s raw materials and without the atmosphere control. The HA used in this work was obtained by a new method which consists in the addiction of a defloculant. The gelcasting foams method consists in the incorporation of gaseous phase in a ceramic suspension containing the ceramic material, water, defloculants, binders and gelling agents. After the foam formation, the material turns in to a gel by the in situ polymerization of the organic monomers. The control of the induction time is very important to control the porosity. The effect of surfactant amounts, of the solids content and of the induction time in the hydroxyapatite microstructure and physical properties was studied. Also there was evaluated the in vitro and in vivo comportment of the produced porous hydroxyapatite foams. The amount of foam produced, the viscosity of suspensions, compression mechanical strength, fracture surface, apparent density, porosity, permeability, crystalline phases and chemical groups were evaluated. A maximal porosity of about 87.5% was obtained for a solids content of 60%. Obtained materials have a potential use as bone implants in both medical and odontological applications as bone defects repairers in places where low mechanical strengths were required.

Nanocompósitos de alumina-zircônia (Al2O3-ZrO2) exibem altos valores de tenacidade a fratura (4-8 MPa/m) e resistência a flexão (> 500 MPa), biocompatibilidade e bioatividade, o que propicia seu uso em aplicações biomédicas. Além disso, a literatura indica que altas taxas de formação de fosfatos de cálcio podem ser obtidas mediante associação de tratamento químico de superfície à determinados substratos como, sílica (SiO2), titânio (TiO2) e ZrO2. No entanto, tal influência não foi verificada em sistemas nanoestruturados com matriz de Al2O3. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da ZrO2 em diferentes percentuais de inclusões, quanto a formação dos fosfatos de cálcio sobre a superfície do nanocompósito cerâmico de Al2O3-ZrO2 pelo método biomimético. Para tal, pós cerâmicos foram obtidos pela dispersão de 0, 5, 10 e 15% em volume de ZrO2 nanométrica em matriz de Al2O3, conformados e sinterizados (1050 °C/1 h e 1450° para Al2O3 e 1050 °C/1 h e 1550°C para as demais composições). Após esta etapa, os corpos de prova foram submetidos a tratamento químico superficial com H3PO4 durante 4 dias a 90 °C e, posteriormente, recobertos biomimeticamente em SBF 1,0x, 1,5x e 5,0x, durante 14, 21 e 28 dias. Ao final deste período, as camadas de fosfatos de cálcio depositadas foram caracterizadas por Infravermelho Médio por Transformada de Fourier (FT-MIR) e Difração de Raios-X (DRX), para determinação das áreas de fosfatos totais e fases, em todos os períodos de incubação. De forma geral, observou-se maior deposição de fosfatos de cálcio sobre a superfície dos nanocompósitos com maiores percentuais de inclusões de ZrO2. Além disso, os recobrimentos com todas as soluções de SBF propiciaram a formação de grupos fosfatos (PO43-) e carbonatos (CO32-), Independentemente da concentração de SBF, ou percentual de inclusões de ZrO2 na matriz de Al2O3, apenas três fases foram observadas em função do período de incubação: hidroxiapatita (HA), alfa e beta-fosfatotricálcico (α-TCP e β-TCP). Aos 28 dias de incubação, em todas as condições, maiores teores de ZrO2 influíram para formação da fase α-TCP (r > 0,88). Os resultados obtidos sugerem que a ZrO2 influenciou de forma significativa na formação dos fosfatos de cálcio de interesse biológico (α/β-TCP e HA) na superfície dos nanocompósitos, o que proporciona melhores condições de bioatividade, solubilidade e osteocondução às superfícies dos corpos de prova cerâmicos. Nesse sentido, as biocerâmicas de Al2O3-ZrO2 recobertas com promissoras às aplicações de substituição e remodelação do tecido ósseo. / Alumina-zirconia (Al2O3-ZrO2) nanocomposites exhibit high values of fracture toughness (4-8 MPa/m) and flexural strength (> 500 MPa), biocompatibility and bioactivity, which favors its use in biomedical applications. Furthermore, the literature indicates that high rates of formation of calcium phosphates can be obtained by associating chemical surface treatment with certain substrates such as silica (SiO2), titanium (TiO2) and ZrO2. However, such influence was not verified in nanostructured systems with Al2O3 matrix. In this sense, the objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of ZrO2 on different percentages of inclusions, regarding the formation of calcium phosphates on the surface of the ceramic Al2O3-ZrO2 nanocomposite by the biomimetic method. Then, the ceramic powders were obtained by the dispersion of 0, 5, 10 and 15% by volume of nanometer ZrO2 in Al2O3 matrix, conformed and sintered (1050 °C / 1 h and 1450 °C for Al2O3 and 1050 °C / 1h and 1550°C for other compositions). After this step, the test specimens were submitted to superficial chemical treatment with H3PO4 for 4 days at 90 °C and then, biomimetically coated in 1.0x, 1.5x and 5.0x SBF for 14, 21 and 28 days. At the end of this period, deposited calcium phosphate layers were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-MIR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) for determination of total phosphate and phase areas in all periods of incubation. In general, higher deposition of calcium phosphates on the surface of nanocomposites with higher percentages of ZrO2 inclusions was observed. Regardless of the concentration of SBF or percentage of ZrO2 inclusions in Al2O3 matrix, only three layers were observed as a function of incubation period, hydroxyapatite (HA), alpha and beta-phosphate-calcium (α-TCP and β-TCP). At 28 days of incubation, under all conditions, higher ZrO2 contents influenced the α-TCP phase formation (r > 0.88). The results suggest that ZrO2 significantly influenced the formation of calcium phosphates of biological interest (α / β-TCP and HA) on the surface of the nanocomposites, which provides better conditions of bioactivity, solubility and osteoconduction to the surfaces of the proof ceramic tiles. In this sense, the Al2O3-ZrO2 bioceramics coated with promising to the bone tissue replacement and remodeling applications.