Synchrotron Radiation and Neutron Diffraction Study of Hydroxyapatite in Bone at the Interface with Implant

The quantitative evaluation of the preferential orientation of crystallites by the synchrotron and neutron diffraction techniques during regeneration at the interface with implant gives a good prediction of the mechanical properties of the bone. During the process of bone healing after implantation, the speed and quality of regeneration is affected by the nature of the implant surface. Titanium alloy (Ti-Al-4V) is currently coating with the hydroxyapatite (HAp), Ca10(PO4)6 (OH)2, in order to obtain a stable and functional direct connection between bone and implant. At the interface implant-bone, the new bone reconstituted after implantation must have the same mechanical properties of bone in order to accept the implant. Therefore, it is necessary to study by means of two non destructive techniques: neutron diffraction and synchrotron radiation, the crystal growth and texture of this new bone crystals reconstituted at the interface.