Physical properties, mechanical behavior, and electron microscopy study of a new α-TCP block graft with silicon in an animal model

This study reports the characterization process and in vivo application of a new block bone graft of a-TCP with silicate in three different percentages in the aim of determining the influence of the silicate. Three groups of cylindrical implants (6 +/- 0.01 mm diameter, 8 +/- 0.01 mm length) with varying Si composition were studied: A: 3 wt % C2S; B: 1.5 wt % C2S; C: 100 wt % TCP0 wt % C2S. These were implanted randomly in critical size defects in New Zealand rabbits. X-ray diffraction analysis was performed to determine the crystalline phases of the different compositions. Histomorphometric analysis produced one measurement of bone-to-implant contact. Comparing the a-TCPss ceramics, the trial found improved mechanical properties due to the silicon content in solid solution as well as densification. Previous studies have shown that the mechanical strengths of sintered ceramics correlate to densification as well as grain size and mechanical properties. Because of its mechanical and biological behavior, the study has shown a-TCP with C2S to be an alternative to other bone graft substitutes for use in bone reconstructive surgery in the fields of veterinary, medicine, and oral and maxillofacial surgery. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A:34463454, 2012.