In vivo evaluation of hydroxyapatite foams

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is widely applied as bone graft material due to its osteoconductive potential and well-established biocompatibility. In this work, macroporous hydroxyapatite structures made through foaming of aqueous suspensions and gelcasting were tested for in vivo osteointegration. These foams are composed of a three-dimensional array of spherical pores with diameters of approximately 100-500 mum, interconnected by windows of smaller size in the range of 30-120 mum. The HA foams were implanted in the tibia of albino New Zealand rabbits and removed after a period of 8 weeks. Histological analysis revealed that the pores in the foams were partially or completely filled progressively with mature new bone tissue and osteoid after the implanted period. No immune or inflammatory reactions were detected. The high osteoconductive potential of the HA foams provides a potential structure for use as bone substitute in orthopedic, oral, and cranio-maxillofacial reconstructive surgery, and as dento-alveolar implants. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.