Enhanced performance of fluorine substituted hydroxyapatite composites for hard tissue engineering.

Dense fluorine (F) substituted hydroxyapatite composites with yttria-doped zirconia (Y-TZP) and/or alumina (Al(2)O(3)) were successfully fabricated without applying pressure at 1400 degrees C for 3 h. The suppression of decomposition via the formation of a fluor-hydroxyapatite (FHA) solid solution allowed the sintered body to reach full density. Such fully densified FHA-composites exhibited improved mechanical properties, such as strength, toughness, and hardness, having values of more than approximately 2-4 times higher than those of pure HA or HA-composites. The proliferation behavior of osteoblast-like cells on the FHA-composites showed no cytotoxicity and comparable cell viability to that observed in pure HA for up to 10 days.