Drug-loaded porous spherical hydroxyapatite granules for bone regeneration

Porous spherical hydroxyapatite (HAp) granules, which are not only can be used for bone void filler, but also drug delivery systems, were prepared using a liquid nitrogen method. Various pore and channel structures of spherical granules were obtained by adjusting the ratio of water to HAp powder and the amount of sodium chloride (NaCl). By using the water to powder ratio at 2.0 ml/g and the amount of NaCl at 15 wt% by powder, the spherical granules have optimal pore volume, micro-channel structure and strength to handle as well as the ability to work as a drug delivery system. When the NaCl content was 15 wt%, the micro-channel structure was changed, but the pore volume was maintained. For the drug release test, dexamathasone (Dex) was loaded as a model drug on the prepared HAp granules by the immersion method, and the drug release behavior was curved by a UV/vis spectrophotometer. As a result, different drug release behavior was observed according to micro-channel structural differences. Therefore, it was concluded that the NACl could be applied as the pore and micro-channel structure control agent. Porous spherical HAp granules, which were fabricated by a liquid nitrogen method, show potential as bone void filler with the ability of controlled drug release.