In the present study, two biphasic calcium phosphate biomaterials (BCP) with HA/TCP ratios of 50/50 and 30/70 were obtained from a pure HA biomaterial. The biomaterials which showed the same three-dimensional geometry were implanted into corticocancellous costal defects of sheep. In the specimens of all three biomaterials, abundant bone formation, mineral dissolution from the biomaterial scaffolds, and active cellular resorption of the scaffolds was present after 6 and 12 months. Backscattered electron microscopy showed bone invasion into the pores of the scaffolds and micromechanical interlocking at the bone/biomaterial interface without intervening soft tissue. The pattern of bone formation and scaffold resorption was different for cortical and cancellous bone. No time-based effect, however, was observed. Overall, the BCP biomaterials had formed significantly more bone than the HA biomaterial. Also, scaffold resorption, which was followed by a replacement with newly formed bone, was significantly higher in the BCP biomaterials. Although no significant differences were observed between both BCP biomaterials, the present study had confirmed the assumption that HA/TCP compounding was suitable to improve bone formation and scaffold resorption in the investigated biomaterials and at the same time maintain the osteoconductive properties of the scaffolds.

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The present study investigated the hypothesis that hydroxyapatite (HA), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), and a HA-gel coated on endosseous titanium (Ti) implants by spark discharging (SD) and dip coating would achieve predictable osseointegration without evident bioresorption of the coatings on the long term. A costal sheep model was used for the implantation of the HA/SD, HA/TCP/SD, and HA-gel/SD specimens, which were retrieved 6 and 12 months following implantation. HA and Ti coatings on implants obtained by conventional plasma spraying (HA/PS, Ti/PS) were used as controls. Microscopy showed that osseointegration was achieved from all types of implants. No evidence for bioresorption of the HA/SD, HA/TCP/SD, and HA-gel/SD coatings was present but cohesive failure with disruption of the coating/implant interface was seen. A statistical analysis of the histomorphometrical data showed no time-dependent effect, however. HA/PS coatings achieved significantly higher bone-implant contact (BIC) percentages of the total implant surface (toBIC) than the other types of coatings (P=0.01). If the BIC percentages were traced separately for implant portions placed into cortical and cancellous bone (coBIC and caBIC, respectively), detailed analysis showed that the caBIC values of HA-gel/SD and HA/PS coatings were significantly higher than that of the other types of coatings (P=0.01). CaBIC values were highly correlated with toBIC values (P<0.001). The present study showed that the preparation techniques used produced thin, dense, and unresorbable coatings that achieved osseointegration. Compared with the control coatings, however, only HA-gel/SD coating can be recommended from the investigated preparation techniques for a future clinical use if a better coating cohesion is achieved.