Some considerations on biomaterials and bone

Osteoinduction is a property not traditionally attributed to Calcium Phosphate ceramics. Histologic, SEM and X-ray microanalyses of a biopsy of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis allow to discredit this opinion. Bone, even lamellar type, was ectopically formed on microliths undergoing osteoclastic erosion. The SEM and X-ray microanalyses of coral granules implanted in humans indicate an osteoconductive property for both Calcium and Phosphorus. Analysis of in vitro allows to propose an enhancement of the osteocapability of coral. Lamellar bone formation in the near absence of loads undermines the opinion which sees a correlation between lamellar bone and mechanical loads. Analysis of the bone surrounding an uncemented titanium hip prosthesis highlights that both remodeled and newly formed bone have lamellae oriented parallel to prosthesis surfaces, i.e. orthogonal to loads, as opposed to that of lamellar bone of osteons which are oriented parallel to loads. Analysis of longitudinal sections of cortical bone under polarized light points out that lamellae are displaced parallel to the cement line surface both in the conic end of osteons and in Volkman's canals with thick wall, i.e. undergoing sloped load directions. In conclusion, there may be a relationship between lamellae formation and gravity.