DYNAMIC COMPACTION - A NEW PROCESS TO COMPACT THERAPEUTIC AGENT-LOADED CALCIUM PHOSPHATES

The sintering stage in the classical process of preparing bone substit ution materials prevents therapeutic agents from being loaded into cal cium phosphate powder. However, dynamic compaction, a new process, req uires no external heat, allowing the therapeutic agent to be incorpora ted into ceramics. This report presents the results of an in vitro stu dy of therapeutic agents associated with calcium phosphate powder and involving this new process. A mixture of vancomycin lyophilized powder (0.15g) and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) powder (1.85g) was compa cted. In addition, 2 ml of human growth hormone (1 mg ml(-1)) were ass ociated with BCP powder by physical adsorption on bead surfaces before compaction. Detection by monoclonal antibodies and sodium dodecyl sul phate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated the structural i ntegrity of the two therapeutic agents after consolidation. This new c ompaction process should be useful in developing ceramics that contain a therapeutic agent. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited.