Hydroxyapatite-based porous aggregates: physico-chemical nature, structure, texture and architecture

At the request of medical teams from the maxillofacial sector, a highly porous ceramic support based on hydroxyapatite of around 70–80% porosity was produced with a pore size distribution similar to bone texture (< 10 μm, not, vert, similar3vol%; 10–150 μm, not, vert, similar110 vol%; > 150 μm, not, vert, similar86 vol%). The ceramic substrates were conceived not only as a fillers for bone cavities, but also for use as drug dispensers and as supports to host cells to produce particular therapeutic agents. A method is suggested to obtain a substrate of high porosity, exploiting the impregnation of spongy substrate with hydroxyapatite ceramic particles. X-ray and scanning electron microscopy analyses were carried out to evaluate the nature of the new ceramic support in comparison with the most common commercial product; pore size distribution and porosity were controlled to known hydroxyapatite ceramic architecture for the different possible uses.