Implantation of tricalcium phosphate–polyvinyl alcohol filled carbon fibre reinforced polyester resin composites into bone marrow of rabbits

Biocompatibility of tricalcium phosphate–polyvinyl alcohol filled unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced epoxy resin composites was investigated in rabbits in present study. The materials were implanted for 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 32 weeks into bone defects created (osteoperiosteal gap) in the bone marrow of 20 rabbits. The effects of implantation in the rabbits were evaluated with the help of clinical, radiological and histological methods. Cancellous bone formation was observed around the implanted material after implantation for 12–32 weeks without any adverse reaction. The tricalcium phosphate and polyvinyl alcohol filled carbon fibre reinforced polyester resin show combined advantages of better tensile strength, compressive strength, bending strength and biocompatibility than the carbon fibre reinforced polyester resin composites. No morphological abnormality was observed around tissue of the implant. Where as carbon fibre shows high modulus and strength of implanted material without any adverse effects because carbon fibre fully covered through out the length with the layer of tricalcium phosphate and polyvinyl alcohol; thus, these materials may prove to be useful for novel applications in the biomedical field.