Sintered hydroxyapatite for a percutaneous device and its clinical application

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Medical Device Development

Background:

• Percutaneous devices require materials with excellent biocompatibility.
• Hydroxyapatite is a promising biomaterial for medical implants.
• Understanding tissue response to implanted materials is crucial for device success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the biocompatibility and tissue integration of sintered hydroxyapatite as a percutaneous device.
• To assess the long-term stability and tissue reaction around hydroxyapatite implants in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Sintered hydroxyapatite was designed as a percutaneous device.
• The device was implanted percutaneously in mongrel dogs.
• Histological examination assessed tissue reaction around the implants from 1 to 17 months.

Main Results:

• No epidermis downgrowth was observed at 1 month, with limited downgrowth (1 mm) in long-term studies (3-17 months).
• The fibrous capsule formed around the hydroxyapatite showed amino acid composition similar to vertebrate periosteum.
• Sintered hydroxyapatite demonstrated close contact and integration with skin tissue.

Conclusions:

• Sintered hydroxyapatite exhibits good biocompatibility and long-term stability for percutaneous devices.
• The material effectively integrates with skin tissue, minimizing adverse reactions like epidermis downgrowth.
• This biomaterial is suitable for developing stable and safe percutaneous implants.