Cytotoxicity of synthetic barium hydroxyapatite.

Barium hydroxyapatite (Ba10(PO4)6(OH)2, Ba-HAp) was synthesized by a wet method using Ba(OH)2.8H2O and (NH4)2HPO4 as starting materials. The Ba-HAp obtained had a Ba/P atomic ratio of 1.76 and contained CO3 groups. The Ba-HAp was sintered at 1073 K for 12 hours. The sintered Ba-HAp had a three point bending strength of 29 MPa and Young's modulus of 27 GPa. Cytotoxicity of the sintered bodies and particles was tested using L-cells. The sintered Ba-HAp showed no cytotoxicity, and the cells were closely in contact with the surfaces of sintered Ba-HAp. Morphological observation of the cell around the Ba-HAp particles also showed no cytotoxicity. However, cell growth was inhibited by Ca adsorption on the Ba-HAp particles. These results suggested that the Ba-HAp had no cytotoxicity and can be applied as a bioactive X-ray opaque material.