Current state of the art of biphasic calcium phosphate bioceramics

We have developed 15 years ago, with the collaboration of Lynch, Nery, and LeGeros in the USA, a bioactive concept based on biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramics. The concept is determined by an optimum balance of the more stable phase of HA and more soluble TCP. The material is soluble and gradually dissolves in the body, seeding new bone formation as it releases calcium and phosphate ions into the biological medium. The bioactive concept based on the dissolution/transformation processes of HA and TCP has been applied to both Bulk, Coating and Injectable Biomaterials. The events at the calcium phosphate (CaP) biomaterial/bone interface represent a dynamic process, including physicochemical processes, crystal/proteins interactions, cells and tissue colonization, bone remodeling, finally contributing to the unique strength of such interfaces. An important literature and numerous techniques have been used for the evaluation of the fundamental physico chemical and biological performance of BCP concept. This type of artificial bone used from a long time in preclinical and in clinical trial, revealed the efficiency for bone filling, performance for bone reconstruction and efficacy for bone ingrowth at the expense of the micro macroporous BCP bioceramics. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.