IN-VIVO REACTIONS OF CA,P PARTICLE CONTAINING SURFACE REACTIVE GLASSES

Four Ca,P particle containing surface reactive grass composites and two glasses (in the SiO2-CaO-P2O5-Na2O-Al2O3-B2O3 system) were implanted in the diaphyseal area of goat femora up to 24 weeks. Scanning electron microscopic, energy dispersive x-ray, and histological analysis were performed to evaluate the material-tissue interactions. A new type of integration mechanism was observed. Instead of the bone growing to the material surface, a gellike silica formation appeared between the cortex bone and the material surface. In time the gel-like formation was replaced by a Ca,P layer. The results provided indirect evidence that pure silica gel formed in the tissues could also achieve an apatite layer formation and bone bonding on its surface. (C) 1994 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.