Bone regeneration of porous β‐tricalcium phosphate (Conduit™ TCP) and of biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic (Biosel®) in trabecular defects in sheep

In this study bone regeneration between porous β‐tricalcium phosphate (Conduit™ TCP) and biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic (Biosel®), with a hydroxyapatite/β‐TCP ratio of 75/25, was compared. The ceramic particles were implanted in sheep trabecular bone for 3, 12, and 26 weeks. Histomorphometrical analysis revealed that Conduit™ degraded significantly during time and only 36% of the material was left at 26 weeks implantation time. Biosel®, in contrast, remained nearly intact. The degradation of Conduit™ was due to dissolution as well as cell‐mediated. Biosel® showed a high cellular intervention, although this material did not degrade. Both materials were osteoconductive. The amount of newly formed bone appeared greater in the Conduit™ group after 26 weeks (46% ± 8% as compared to 37% ± 8% for Biosel®), but this difference was not significant. Bone distribution over the defect was homogeneous in Conduit™, whereas Biosel® showed significantly more bone in the periphery of the defect after 26 weeks in comparison to the center. In conclusion, both ceramics are biocompatible and osteoconductive. Degradation showed a difference in amount and in cellular events, with more degraded Conduit™ TCP with less cellular intervention as compared to Biosel®. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2007