Raman Spectroscopy Analysis of Wollastonite/Tricalcium Phosphate Glass-Ceramics after Implantation in Critical Bone Defect in Rats

In this work wollastonite/tricalcium phosphate (W/TCP) glass-ceramics with three W/TCP weight ratios (20/80; 60/40 and 80/20) were implanted in rat calvaria and the modifications taking place during implantation were studied by Raman spectroscopy. The experimental glass-ceramics were composed of different contents of βW, αW, βTCP, αTCP, and glassy phases. Materials were implanted for 7-, 15-, 45- and 120-day periods after which the implanted materials were recovered and analyzed by FT-Raman spectroscopy. The results suggested that the αW phase reabsorbs fast during implantation in the glass-ceramics 60/40 and 80/20, whereas βTCP and αTCP glass-ceramic are gradually attenuated and replaced by biological apatite-like bands. In the glass-ceramic 20/80, the bands related to the βTCP phase remained unvaried in all analyzed periods. New bands associated with the deposition of colla-genous glass-ceramic 20/80 behaved just as an osteoconductive filling material, while glass-ceramics 60/40 and 80/20 were able to induce deposition of organic matrix mineralized new tissue. The 60/40 glass-ceramic showed the best performance and the most similar Raman spectrum to normal cortical bone.