We fabricated an interconnected dual porous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) block via a setting reaction of β-TCP granules. This β-TCP block was unique because it exhibits a fully interconnected macroporous structure with micropores in the walls surrounding macropores and a roughened surface. The porosity and diametral tensile strength of the resulting product were 58.1 ± 1.7% and 1.4 ± 0.2 MPa, respectively.Rabbit distal femur bone defects were reconstructed using the porous β-TCP block and the efficacy of the porous β-TCP block as an artificial bone substitute was evaluated histomorphometrically. For a dense β-TCP control, 4 weeks following implantation, only 0.2 ± 0.1% of the β-TCP was resorbed, and the amount of newly formed bone was limited (0.1 ± 0.1%), whereas when the defect was reconstructed with porous β-TCP, 9.2 ± 3.1% was resorbed, and the amount of new bone was 18.9 ± 5.5%. This represents an approximately 50-fold enhancement in resorption and a 200-fold increase in bone formation for our porous β-TCP block. Therefore, interconnected dual porous β-TCP made via β-TCP granule setting has good potential as an artificial bone substitute. K E Y W O R D Sartificial bone substitute, dual pore, interconnected porous structure, roughened surface, β-Tricalcium phosphate

Context: The most common biomaterial used for dental implants is titanium. However, the release of metal ions and the risk of allergic reactions to metals that may occur in some patients cannot be avoided. Hydroxyapatite-polymethylmethacrylate (HA-PMMA) composite biomaterials are proposed to have potential as dental implant biomaterials due to their mechanical, chemical, and biological properties. HA-PMMA may induce osseointegration, biocompatible, less allergic reactions, and no metal ions released. In addition, HA-PMMA can be obtained from Indonesia’s abundant natural resources. Aims: To explore HA-PMMA composites through molecular docking as a biomaterial candidate for dental implants in silico. Methods: Structure data format (sdf), molecular weight, and identity number (CID) of HA-PMMA ligand samples were obtained from PubChem database and minimized through OpenBabel. 3D structure, selection method, resolution, atom count, weight, sequence length, and ID protein BMP2, BMP4, BMP7, alkaline phosphatase (AP), osteonectin, osteopontin, and osteocalcin on RCSB-PDB native ligand and water sterilization on PyMol were carried out with the aim of to maximize the formation of binding affinity during molecular docking simulations. Results: HA-PMMA composites can enhance the activity of proteins associated with osseointegration such as BMP-2/4/7, AP, osteocalcin, osteonectin, and osteopontin in silico. HA-PMMA composites have the strongest binding to osteonectin and are predicted to enhance the AP activity in silico. Conclusions: HA-PMMA composites are potential candidates for dental implant biomaterials with the osteointegration ability through binding with BMP-2/4/7, AP, osteocalcin, osteonectin, and osteopontin in silico.

β-Tricalcium phosphate [β-TCP] is the typical bone substitute due to its excellent osteoconductivity and bioresorbability. One of the keys to improve its potential as bone substitute is to introduce porous structure and its regulation. In this study, interconnected porous β-TCP blocks were fabricated through a setting reaction of β-TCP granules and subsequent heat treatment. First, β-TCP granules were mixed with HNO . Upon mixing, β-TCP granules were bridged with dicalcium phosphate dihydrate [DCPD: CaHPO ·2H O] containing Ca(NO ) . Then, the DCPD-bridged β-TCP was heated at 1100°C. During the heating process, DCPD containing Ca(NO ) transformed into β-TCP and bonded with β-TCP granules. As a result, an interconnected porous β-TCP block formed. The diametral tensile strength and porosity of the interconnected porous β-TCP block fabricated from 200-300-μm β-TCP granules and 5 N HNO and then heated at 1,100°C were 1.4 ± 0.2 MPa and 57% ± 2%, respectively. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 797-804, 2018.

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