MgO implanted in rat tibia bone marrow is osteoinductive through the formation of a matrix, containing hydroxyapatite

Healing of rat tibia after intramedullary implantation of MgO was analysed by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results indicated the formation of hydroxyl-apatite (HA) in the entire intramedullary space after 1 week of healing. Then, corroded Mg, MgO and MgCO3 were incubated with DMEM in vitro for 24 h and the surface of the material was analysed by EDX and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass (ToF-SIMS). The chemical analysis of the Mg corrosion products indicate that HA is formed at the material surface and that MgCO3 was an efficient catalyzer of HA formation.