porous block composite of
Hydroxyapatite/Gelatin/Polyvynil Alcohol has been successfuly
fabricated as a bonegraft. The porous block of composite was
examined to investigate its compressive strength, micro structure
and callus formation. Materials for the composite were
hydroxyapatite synthesized from calcite (coHA), commercial
hydroxyapatite (HA-200), gelatin (G) and polyvynil alcohol
(PVA). The porous block composite was prepared from a
solution, by mixing the loading material and distilled water with
ratio of 5, 15 and 25% w/v. The loading material was made by
blending of HA (coHA or HA-200), G and PVA with weight
composition ratio of 1/1/0.15. To develop a porous block, the
solution of composite was casted in a mold and freezed overnight
prior to freeze-drying for 6 hours at 0.02 Bar and -50
C. Tests
were performed on compression strength, microstructure, pore
size and in vivo. The in vivo test was carried out by observing a
callus growth within cancellous bone of white rat for 14 and 21
days. The results showed that the graft composed by coHA and
HA-200 had average pore size of <10 µm up to 300 µm with
compressive strength of 3 to 5 MPa. These strengths were in the
range of trabecular bone strength. From the in vivo test,
composite of [HA200/G/PVA] showed better callus growth
compared to [CoHA/G/PVA] and the control.