To elucidate the biochemical mechanism of osteogenesis, the effect of matrix geometry upon the osteogenesis induced by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) was studied. A series of five porous hydroxyapatites with different pore sizes, 106-212, 212-300, 300-400, 400-500, and 500-600 microns, was prepared. A block (approximately 5 x 5 x 1 mm, 40.0 mg) of each hydroxyapatite ceramics was combined with 4 micrograms of recombinant human BMP-2 and implanted subcutaneously into the back skin of rat. Osteoinductive ability of each implant was estimated by quantifying osteocalcin content and alkaline phosphatase activity in the implant up to 4 wk after implantation. In the ceramics of 106-212 microns, the highest alkaline phosphatase activity was found 2 wk after implantation, and the highest osteocalcin content 4 wk after implantation, consistent with the results observed with particulate porous hydroxyapatite [Kuboki, Y. et al. (1995) Connect. Tissue Res. 32: 219-226]. Comparison of the alkaline phosphatase activities at 2 wk and the osteocalcin contents at 4 wk after implantation revealed that the highest amount of bone was produced in the ceramics implants with pore size of 300-400 microns. In the ceramics with smaller or larger pore sizes, the amount of bone formation decreased as the pore size deviated from 300-400 microns. The results indicated that the optimal pore size for attachment, differentiation and growth of osteoblasts and vascularization is approximately 300-400 microns. This study using chemically identical but geometrically different cell substrata is the first demonstration that a matrix with a certain geometrical size is most favorable for cell differentiation.

A new porous hydroxyapatite ceramic was prepared by cold isostatic pressing and sintering of the flaky powder, that was synthesized through two-stage hydrolysis of brushite; (1) a structural change into the apatite structure and (2) a compositional increase in Ca/P ratio, according to the method of Monma and Kamiya. The appearance of the synthesized powder resembled the flaky shape of the starting materials and pores were interconnected.These properties were ascribed to the effect of cold isostatic pressing on the hydroxyapatite powders with the flaky shape.

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