Bioengineering of an Artificial Bone
S. I. Stupp*
National Institutes of Health, PHS DE05945

We are attempting to generate microstructures for an artificial bone from composite particles produced by a method developed in our laboratory (hydroxyapatite-polypeptide composites). An important consideration is the surgical delivery of this material as a deformable mass which hardens within minutes and then integrates with natural bone by partial biodegradation. We have recently demonstrated that microstructures partly sintered under high pressure can harden significantly after exposure to laser beams in the visible range. The molecular mechanism is thought to involve the simultaneous polymerization and ionic gelation of two oppositely charged macromolecules.