IN-VIVO REACTIONS OF CA,P PARTICLE CONTAINING SURFACE REACTIVE GLASSES

Four Ca,P particle containing surface reactive grass composites and tw o glasses (in the SiO2-CaO-P2O5-Na2O-Al2O3-B2O3 system) were implanted in the diaphyseal area of goat femora up to 24 weeks. Scanning electr on microscopic, energy dispersive x-ray, and histological analysis wer e performed to evaluate the material-tissue interactions. A new type o f integration mechanism was observed. Instead of the bone growing to t he material surface, a gellike silica formation appeared between the c ortex bone and the material surface. In time the gel-like formation wa s replaced by a Ca,P layer. The results provided indirect evidence tha t pure silica gel formed in the tissues could also achieve an apatite layer formation and bone bonding on its surface. (C) 1994 John Wiley a nd Sons, Inc.