This paper reports on the structural morphology of the interface in vivo be
tween implants composed of bioactive synthetic pseudowollastonite ceramic a
nd bone in rat tibias, Thin sections of the interfaces were examined after
6 and 8 weeks of implantation period in a high resolution transmission elec
tron microscope up to the lattice plane resolution level,
The interfaces developed normal biological and chemical activities and rema
ined reactive over the 8-week period. The regions showing direct bone tissu
e bonding to the implant contained nanocrystals of hydroxyapatite-like phas
e growing epitaxially across the interface in the [002] direction, The nano
crystals were also identified in the bone tissue formed in the interfacial
area.
The reactivity of the implant caused in the first instance formation of an
amorphous woven type of bone, which transformed into a crystalline lamellar
type containing collagen fibres, The Ca/P ratio of the interfacial region
was found to be between 1.67 in the mature bone tissue formed about 5 mum f
rom the interface, and 2.06 in the regions right at the interface.