Development of bioactive sol-gel material template for in vitro and in vivo synthesis of bone material

A novel porous material produced via sol gel process is disclosed which is osteoinductive and biodegradable. Due to the fact that high temperatures ar e avoided during the production process, the degree of crystallinity is ver y low and the packing of the crystallites is relatively loose. These are im portant parameters for the biodegradation properties. Nanoporous silica gel is contained to the support of strength. The low degr ee of crystallinity and the high degree of porosity (50-70%, pores in the r ange of few microns) make the material resorbable. A second type of pores d esigned in the range of few millimetres supports the bone ingrowth. An in vitro formation of bone tissue is shown when the material is exposed to tissue culture medium and inoculated with human osteoblastic cells. Anim al tests show the formation of new bone tissue and first steps of biodegrad ation.