- Fabrication of Porous beta-TCP Bone Graft Substitutes Using PMMA Powder and their Biocompatibility Study

Porous beta-tricakium phosphate (13-TCP) bioceramic was fabricated by pressureless sintering using commercial HAp and different volume percentages of PMMA powders (30-60 vol.%). The range of spherical pore size was about 200-250 mu m in diameter. By increasing the PMMA content, the number of pores and their morphology were dramatically changed as well as decreased the material properties. In case of using 60 vol.% PMMA content, network-type pores were found, due to the necking of the PMMA powders. The values of relative density, elastic modulus, bending strength and hardness of the 60 vol.% PMMA content sample, sintered at 1500 degrees C, were about 46%, 22.2 GPa, 5 MPa and 182 Hv respectively. Human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells and osteoclast-like Raw 264.7 cells were well grown and fully covered all of the porous beta-TCP bodies sintered at 1500 degrees C.