Macroporous hydroxyapatite obtained in the Universidad de Antioquia: synthesis, characterization and comparison with the spongy calcined bovine bone

Macroporous blocks of hydroxyapatite were obtained and they were characterized by atomic absorption, x-rays diffraction, infrared and electronic microscopy SEM. The macroporosity was induced with three natural macroporous agents: montanoa quadrangularis, asparagus ofssicynali and zea may, An experimental design was used for hydroxyapatite synthesis with these agents. The macroporous blocks were compared with the spongy calcined bovine bone, the best results were obtained with the block elaborated with zea mays. The block presented the following characteristics: hardness in the Mohs scale of 2,5-3,0; total porosity by water absorption: 85% in volume; porosity by image analysis: 18,61% in area; maximum diameter of pore: 1.048 μm; modulus of rupture: 6,35 Kg/cm2; Ca/P relation: 1,65 and density: 3,11 g/cm3.