Phase conversion of tricalcium phosphate into Ca-deficient apatite during sintering of hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphate biphasic ceramics.

In this study, we report a new observation on the phase conversion that occurs during the sintering of hydroxyapatite (HA)-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) biphasic ceramics. During the sintering of the HA-TCP mixture powders, a large amount of TCP was converted into HA, as detected by X-ray diffraction. The amount of TCP transformed into HA was approximately 10-90% of that initially added. From the electron probe microscopy analysis, the HA transformed from TCP was found to be Ca-deficient with Ca/P ratios of 1.62-1.64. The dissolution behavior and osteoblastic responses in a series of HA-TCP biphasic ceramics (10-90% TCP) were assessed. The solubility of the HA-TCP biphasic ceramics was intermediate between that of the HA and TCP pure ceramics. However, in the case of the HA-90% TCP biphasic ceramic, the solubility was even higher than that of pure TCP. The cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity of the cells on the biphasic ceramics were lower than those on pure HA, but higher than those on pure TCP. However, particularly in the HA-50% TCP biphasic composition, the cellular responses were significantly higher than those on pure HA. It is considered that the Ca-deficient apatite newly formed from the TCP may affect in some way the solubility and biological properties of the HA-TCP biphasic ceramics.