Growth-hormone loaded bioactive ceramics

A ‘bioactive’ material, capable of active stimulation of osteogenesis, has been produced by adsorbing human growth hormone onto calcium phosphate ceramics. These materials can be used to deliver growth hormone at the bone-ceramic interface. The elution of the hormone occurs in two phases, with an initial rapid release followed by a slow continuous release for up to 25 days. Tricalcium phosphate was found to release growth hormone better than hydroxyapatite, probably due to the higher solubility of the ceramic.In vivo studies using a rabbit model were used to demonstrate osteointegration at the ceramic interface.