Apatite-forming ability of a zirconia/alumina nano-composite induced by chemical treatment.

Induction of an apatite-forming ability on a nano-composite of a ceria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Ce-TZP) and alumina (Al2O3) polycrystals via chemical treatment with aqueous solutions of H3PO4, H2SO4, HCl, or NaOH has been investigated. The Ce-TZP/Al2O3 composite is attractive as a load-bearing bone substitute because of its mechanical properties. The chemical treatments produced Zr-OH surface functional groups, which are known to be effective for apatite nucleation in a body environment. The composite, after chemical treatment, was shown to form a bonelike apatite layer when immersed in a simulated body fluid containing ion concentrations nearly equal to those in human blood plasma. This implies that it may form apatite in the living body and bond to living bone through the apatite layer. This type of bioactive Ce-TZP/Al2O3 composite is therefore expected to be useful as a bone substitute, even under load-bearing conditions. Copyright 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 60: 277-282, 2002; DOI 10.1002/jbm.10071