Bioceramics

Belinda Murphy, Phd

References
1. Heimann R.B (2010). Classic and Advanced Ceramics: From Fundamentals to Applications. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA 2. Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine (2004). Ratner B, Hoffman A, Schoen F and Lemons J, 2nd Ed. Elsevier Academic Press
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Ceramics
The oldest man-made materials Inorganic, nonmetallic, silicate - based materials, insoluble in water and many acids and alkalis, and contain at least 30% crystalline compounds Shaped at ambient temperature Obtain their typical properties by firing beyond 800 C

Ref 2

Ceramics
Ceramics are refractory polycrystalline compounds
Some are highly inert Hard and brittle (sensitive to notches and cracks) High compressive strength Generally good electric and thermal insulators Good aesthetic appearance Difficult to shear plastically due to ionic bond
* Refractory: difficult to fuse, corrode, or draw out, capable of enduring high temperature

Advanced Ceramics
Highly specilised: e.g. involving unique electric, magnetic, optical, mechanical, biological, and environmental properties Performs well in extreme conditions: e.g. high temperature, pressure, radiation or corrosive exposure Expensive compared to classic bioceramics Not yet fully understood in terms of properties and failure
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Reproduced from Ref 1

Advanced Ceramics
Holds promise for current manufacturing or use problems Produced from sophisticated processing technology Not a current product for investment (poor ROI) High promise for future use Not yet widely used; but with the potential to be such
Reproduced from Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards ; Early and Rook, 2004 ), and the ASTM Committee C - 28 on Advanced Ceramics
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Usage of Advanced Ceramics in Biomedical Application

Component
Hip Joint

Properties Utilised Advanced Ceramics

Mechanical Resistance Aluminium Oxide

Bone Replacement

Surface Finish Biocompatibility

Calcium Phosphate

Socioeconomic
A huge demand for
load -bearing hip, knee and dental endoprosthetic implants bone replacement parts in the maxillar mandibular area the ossicular chain of the inner ear, and alveolar ridge and iliac crest augmentation

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Classification of Bioceramics
Inert or Nearly inert Bioactive (Surface reactive) Biodegradable or Resorbable

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Types of Ceramics
nearly bioinert

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Reproduced from Ref 2

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Bioinert
Interface is not chemically or biologically bonded
Do not release any toxic particles

Do not interact with the surrounding tissue

A nonadherent capsule of connective tissue formed around the implant

Note: If the material is nontoxic and biologically inactive (nearly inert), a fibrous tissue of variable thickness forms
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Example: Non absorbable or Relatively inert :Aluminum Oxides (Alumina), Al2O3

Natural alumina is known as sapphire or ruby Application:
Femoral head of hip protheses ( ~35 years) Bone screws and plates Crowns and bridges

Good - high hardness, low friction, low wear, corrosion resistance, good biocompatibility, high strength and very thin capsule formation (which permits cementless fixation of prostheses)
Some concern has been expressed that long - term alumina - bearing implants might lead to elevated levels of aluminium within the body - no clinical reports have been reported
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Hip joint endoprosthesis system consisting of an alumina femoral ball attached to a Ti6Al4V stem coated with hydroxyapatite (right) and a matching acetabular cup lined with alumina (left)
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(a) Schematic diagram and (b) x-ray of an artificial total hip replacement.

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Inert Ceramics: Zirconia, ZrO2

Zirconia is produced from zirconium silicate (zircon, ZrSiO4 ) or baddeleyite (monoclinic m - ZrO2 ), trace amounts of uranium and thorium

Applications:
Orthopaedics: femoral head, artificial knee, bone screws and plates, favoured over UHMWPE due to superior wear resistance Dental: crowns and bridges

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Y - Stabilized Zirconia ( Y - TZP )

Tetragonal zirconia partially stabilized with yttria (Y - PSZ), magnesia (Mg - PSZ) and calcia (Ca - PSZ) Properties: Hard and tough structural ceramic materials for femoral balls in hip endoprostheses larger fracture toughness ( K Ic ) compared to alumina Applications: restorative dentistry Orthopaedics
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Inert Ceramics: Zirconia, ZrO2

Compared to alumina, partially stabilised zirconia (PSZ)
higher flexural strength larger fracture toughness better reliability lower Young's modulus ability to be polished to a superior surface finish lower hardness

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Reproduced from Ref 2

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Bioactive Ceramics:
Intermediate between resorbable and bioinert Capable of direct chemical bonding with the host biological tissue Glass Ceramics (Bioglass) Hydroxyapatite (HA) Calcium Titanium Zirconium Phosphates (CaTiZr 3 (PO4 )6)
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Bioactive Ceramics (GLASSES AND GLASS-CERAMICS)

Causes a specific biological response at the interface of the material, resulting in the formation of a bond between the tissues and the material Characteristic Time-dependent Kinetic modification of the surface that happens upon implantation
The surface forms a biologically active carbonated HA layer that provides the bonding interface with tissues

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Bioglass
Based primarily on silica (SiO2 ), but containing small amounts of other crystalline phases (e.g., Na2O, CaO, and P2O5 ) Normally based upon the formula called 45S5, signifying 45 wt.% SiO2 and 5 : 1 ratio of CaO to P2O5 Glasses with lower ratios of CaO to P2O5 do not bond to bone

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Reproduced from Ref 2

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Bioactive Ceramics: Glass Ceramics

Composition includes SiO2, CaO and Na2O Bioactivity depends on the relative amounts of SiO2, CaO and Na2O Cannot be used for load bearing applications Ideal as bone cement filler and coating due to its biological activity

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Sequence of Interfacial Reactions Involved in Forming a Bond Between Tissue and Bioactive Glass

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Selected Bioglasses Applications

Dental implants Maxillofacial reconstruction Spinal fusion Coatings for surgical screws and wires Cochlear implants Bone graft substitutes Bone tissue engineering scaffolds Granular filler for jaw defects following tooth extraction

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Hydroxyapatite (HA)
Chemically and structurally very close to naturally occurring biological apatite Very weak Applications:
form to fill larger bone cavities, as coatings for metallic implants as a composite material together with biodegradable polymers such as collagen, poly(lactic acid) ( PLA ) and etc
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Biodegradable Ceramics: Calcium Phosphate

Also known as hydroxyapatite (HA) Structure resembles bone mineral Degrade on implantation to the host Acting as a scaffold for new bone synthesis The rate of resorption must match with bone tissue regeneration The rate of dissolution increases with decreasing Ca-to P ratio (e.g. TCP , is more rapidly resorbed than HA) Different forms exist depending on Ca/P ratio, presence of water, impurities and temperature
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Biodegradable Ceramics: Calcium Phosphate Caused by three factors:

Physiochemical dissolution, which depends on the solubility product of the material and local pH of its environment. New surface phases may be formed (e.g., dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, octacalcium phosphate, and etc) Physical disintegration into small particles as a result of preferential chemical attack of grain boundaries Biological factors, such as phagocytosis, which causes a decrease in local pH concentrations

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The End

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