Organoapatites: materials for artificial bone. III. Biological testing.

This article reports on the in vivo testing of new artificial bone materials we have termed "organoapatites." These materials consist of mineral networks in which organic polymers are intimately dispersed by nucleation and growth of apatite crystals from a mother liquor containing the organic substances. Organoapatites were tested as implants in adult canine cortical bone for periods in the range from 12-35 weeks and fluorochromes were used in the model to investigate the kinetics of bone growth or repair. The analysis of histological samples was carried out using histomorphometric methods as well as fluorescence microscopy. Results showed excellent apposition of poly(amino acid) organoapatites with mineralized bone and fibrous encapsulation when a synthetic polyelectrolyte was the only organic component. This observation suggests that the molecularly dispersed organic dopant amounting to only 2-3% by weight of the microstructure can play a critical role in the tissue response to the implant. Relative to apatite controls, organoapatites were also found to have greater resistance to fragmentation in vivo and those containing amino acid units revealed interfacial bioerosion accompanied by regeneration of mineralized tissue. Design of organoapatite compositions and microstructures may therefore be useful in achieving the specific rate of biological response which is clinically desired.

Organoapatites: materials for artificial bone. I. Synthesis and microstructure.

We have synthesized a new family of materials we termed organoapatites which may be useful in the formulation of artificial bone. These materials are synthesized by nucleation and growth of apatite crystals in media containing poly(amino acids) or synthetic organic polyelectrolytes using strict atmospheric, temperature, and pH control. The macromolecules used to synthesize the organoapatites include poly(L-lysine), poly(L-glutamic acid), and poly(sodium acrylate). The products were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, surface area measurements, elemental analysis, and spectroscopic techniques. Organoapatites were found to contain large surface area morphologies with small crystallites which mature slowly based on analysis of Ca/P ratios. The organic macromolecules are thought to induce nucleation of crystals but also to quench their growth, thus becoming intimately dispersed in a mineral network. The organomineral particles harvested from the reaction medium contain polymer-netted microcrystals, and for this reason the synthetic approach can be used to modulate crystal maturation and biological response. It is likely that the preparative approach mimics some aspects of natural bone matrix synthesis and could be specially useful in the preparation of mineral implants containing intimate dispersions of small amounts of biomolecules such as growth factors, special drugs, or bioadhesives.