EARLY BONE-FORMATION AROUND CALCIUM-ION-IMPLANTED TITANIUM INSERTED INTO RAT TIBIA

Rat tibia tissue into which calcium ion (Ca2+)-implanted titanium was surgically placed was histologically analyzed to investigate the perfo rmance of the Ca2+-implanted titanium as a biomaterial. Calcium ions w ere implanted into only one side of titanium plates at 10(17) ions/cm( 2) and the Ca2+-treated titanium was surgically implanted into rat tib ia for 2, 8, and 18 days. Tetracycline and calcein were used as hard-t issue labels. After excision of the tibia, the tissues were fixed, sta ined, embedded in polymethyl methacrylate, and sliced. The specimens w ere observed using a fluorescence microscope. A larger amount of new b one was formed on the Ca2+-treated side than on the untreated side, ev en at 2 days after surgery. In addition, part of the bone made contact with the Ca2+-treated surface. On the other hand, bone formation on t he untreated side was delayed and the bone did not make contact with t he surface. Mature bone with bone marrow formed in 8 days. Neither mac rophage nor inflammatory cell infiltration was observed. The results i ndicated that Ca2+-implanted titanium is superior to titanium alone fo r bone conduction. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons.