Sintering and biocompatibility of copper-doped hydroxyapatite bioceramics

Addition of copper in biomaterials is currently investigated because it is expected to enhance the biological properties of bone graft substitutes. Copper-doped hydroxyapatite (CuHA) ceramics were prepared by high temperature solid-state reaction sintering between HA and CuO powder mixtures. The reaction occurred from 950 °C and copper-doped apatites were obtained up to 5.3 wt% of copper. For higher copper content, the presence of secondary...