Properties of porous calcium apatite rods

Calcium apatite powder was formed and a definite quantity was mixed separately with 1% solutions of gelatin, chitosan and collagen to form a paste. The gelatin apatite mixture flowed easily while the collagen apatite one was too viscous. The paste formed by the different mixtures was packed individually in thin plastic tubes and calcined at 800/spl deg/C. The ashing away of the organic matter and the phase transformation of the phosphate resulted in rod shaped calcium phosphate rods. The chitosan apatite paste gave the most uniform rods of good porosity. The calcined samples were analysed for their chemical and physical properties. Characterisation was done by FT IR and X-ray diffraction. The material was stable in water and in a phosphate buffer and did not disintegrate. The water uptake and chitosan solution uptake were determined. The porous rods were brittle with comparatively poor bending strength. The apatite rods loaded with an antibiotic like gentamicin sulphate is intended to be used for drug delivery at the sites of orthopaedic implants for the prevention of osteomyelitis.