Development of innovative zirconia artificial bones

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K19911
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 90:Biomedical engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Yokoi Taishi 東京医科歯科大学, 生体材料工学研究所, 准教授 (00706781)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 川下 将一 東京医科歯科大学, 生体材料工学研究所, 教授 (70314234) ; 陳 鵬 東北大学, 歯学研究科, 助教 (70708388)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 人工骨 / ジルコニア / 靭性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Although zirconia has excellent mechanical properties, it cannot be used as an artificial bone because it does not have bone-binding properties. On the other hand, calcium phosphates have inferior mechanical properties to zirconia, but have bone-binding properties and are therefore used clinically as an artificial bone.
In this study, we aimed to develop an innovative zirconia-based artificial bone that combines the advantages of both zirconia and calcium phosphates. The material made by mixing powder made from carboxylate-containing octacalcium phosphate with zirconia and sintering the mixture was found to strongly inhibit the propagation of cracks. In addition, it was demonstrated that the material has strength three times that of conventional calcium phosphate, and the design guidelines for next-generation artificial bones were successfully established.

Free Research Field

生体材料学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で得られた材料は、次世代の人工骨として利用できるだけでなく、人工歯根としても利用できる可能性がある。これらの材料は健康寿命の延伸とWell-beingを支える医療用材料であり、超高齢社会を迎えた日本において大きな意味を持つ材料であると言える。
加えて、本研究で得られた材料中におけるき裂進展抑制のメカニズムは、他のセラミックスにも応用できると期待され、セラミックスの弱点であった脆性を根本的に解決する材料設計として広く活用されることが強く期待される。