Evaluation of host inflammatory responses of β-tricalcium phosphate bioceramics caused by calcium pyrophosphate impurity using a subcutaneous model.

Implantation of synthetic materials into body elicits inflammatory host responses that limit medical device integration and biological performance. Since the effective use of biomaterials in vivo requires good biocompatibility and bio-functionality, it is vital that we assess the inflammatory reactions provoked by various implanted biomaterials. In chemical precipitation of β-tricalcium phosphate [β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂, β-TCP], the impurity of calcium pyrophosphate (Ca₂P₂O₇, CPP) will easily appear if the preparation conditions are not well controlled. To test the influences of CCP-impurity on the biocompatibility of the material, four groups of β-TCP ceramic samples doped with 0.5-10 wt % of CCP impurity, and pure β-TCP and CCP samples were fabricated and implanted in rat subcutaneous site for one, two, and four weeks. The host tissue responses to the ceramics were evaluated by histomorphometric analysis, and the results were compared with pure β-TCPbioceramics. The results show that the CPP impurity can elicit and stimulate the inflammatory responses at the tissue/implant interface. Moreover, with the increase of CPP doping amount, the inflammation increases apparently. However, the pure β-TCP bioceramics only present slight post-implantation inflammatory responses. The influence of the CPP doping on the inflammatory responses is mainly related to a microparticles release because of an insufficient sintering of β-TCP by CPP doping. The microparticle release could be at the origin of local inflammation and cell/tissue damages. Therefore, to obtain perfect biocompatibility and high quality β-TCP bioceramics, it is important to avoid and control the CPP impurity in the preparation of β-TCP powders and bioceramics. 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.