Chemical Interactions between Ca‐Aluminate Implants and Bone

This article describes a novel injectable ceramic based on the calcium aluminate system, especially designed for orthopaedic treatment of e.g. vertebral compression fractures, metaphyseal fractures and cranio-facial restoration. The article focuses particularly on the chemical interactions between the Ca-aluminate based material and bone tissue. The interface between bone and the ceramic material after 6 weeks of implantation in a model involving injection of the non-cured paste into drilled cavities in the tibia of rabbits was evaluated. Optical microscopy, focused ion beam microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive spectroscopy and electron diffraction have been used in the evaluation. The studies reveal the material to be bioactive, i.e. to form chemical bonding between the filler material and bone tissue.