The search for materials which are biologically compatible with living organisms is a topical problem of modern medicine. Several millions operations for implantation of bone grafts and tens of millions of operations for bone restoration are performed annually in the world. Today, a large number of different materials suitable for reconstruction and replacement of bone tissue, such as ceramics, glassceramics, polymers, some metals, have been created. However, most of them are biologically inert or biologically tolerant materials. This means that they are neither rejected by the organism nor engrafted completely being separated from natural tissue by a layer of connective fibrous tissue. That is why of particular interest are biologically active materials which could be naturally compatible with living tissues and which could participate in biochemical reactions in the organism in full measure. Among such bioactive materials there are calcium-phosphorous compounds (tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite) synthesized in the Laboratory of chemical compounds of dispersed elements at the ISSCh under the leadership of Prof. S. P. Yatsenko.
Tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite have the structure and chemical composition, which are almost identical with those of the natural osseous tissue, and exhibit pronounced osteogenetic behavior in biological media. They can be used with success in reparative (restorative) osteoplasty, especially in osteoplasty of spongy bones, small unloaded bones of jaws, face and teeth.
In the gel-like form, the biologically active calcium-phosphorous compounds can be also used to treat soft tissues and mucous tunic lesions thanks to their epithelium-forming, wound-healing, and antimicrobial properties. The compositions developed at the ISSCh on the basis of gel-like hydroxyapatite with hetero-organic substances have been tested in the laboratories and training clinics of the Ural State Medical Academy. One of the experimental compositions was tested at the Department of stomatology to treat parodentium for a group of patients. The superiority of this preparation as compared to its conventional counterparts allows us to patent this novel therapeutic and prophylactic drug for oral cavity care.
Besides, interesting results have been obtained on anti-inflammatory and anti-burn action of the compositions. The experiments with animals showed that the hydroxyapatite-based ointment not only noticeably decreases edema and hyperemia on an inflamed area, but also prevents the development of inflammation if used for prophylaxis. When the new compositions are used to treat burns, the period of cicatrisation decreases approximately by three days, the burn scar being much thinner and softer than as a result of conventional treatment. However, wide application of these preparations is still far away ... for the reasons, which do not depend on the scientists.
