Hard tissue sections stained with toluidine blue light microscopy observations at week 24 after surgery.

<p>(A, B): implanted with a rhBMP-2-loaded/CS AVB (group A) A: × 20 magnification; B: × 40 magnification; (C, D): implanted with a non-drug-loaded/CS AVB (group B) C: × 20 magnification; D: × 40 magnification; (E, F):implanted with a autologous iliac bone graft (group C) E: × 20 magnification; F: × 40 magnification; the yellow arrow indicate the implant HA/ZrO₂-based AVB; the red arrow indicate the HA that under degradation; the green arrow indicate new bone, which was more immature would be tinted deeper blue; and the blue arrow indicate autologous.</p

Activities of the beagle dogs during the pre-surgical period and at weeks 6, 12 and 24 after surgery.

<p>(* indicates significant difference between the two groups, p<0.05).</p

XRD pattern of surface of the HA/ZrO₂ porous bioceramic.

<p>XRD pattern of surface of the HA/ZrO₂ porous bioceramic.</p

X-ray results of group C after surgery.

<p>C1: at week 6, C2: at week 12, C3: at week 24.</p

Animal experimental situation.

<p>(a) the prepared half-cylinders HA/ZrO₂ porous bioceramic AVB; (b) the beagle dog could stand independently when recover postoperative; (c) postoperative specimens shown: the implanted AVB had integrated with autogenous bone at week 24; (d) embedded AVB in the vertebrae defect in operation; (e) a 56-mm-long surgical steel plate was used to stabilize the implanted AVB; (f) wound closure at last.</p

Hard tissue sections stained with toluidine blue light microscopy observations at week 24 after surgery.

<p>(A, B): implanted with a rhBMP-2-loaded/CS AVB (group A) A: × 20 magnification; B: × 40 magnification; (C, D): implanted with a non-drug-loaded/CS AVB (group B) C: × 20 magnification; D: × 40 magnification; (E, F):implanted with a autologous iliac bone graft (group C) E: × 20 magnification; F: × 40 magnification; the yellow arrow indicate the implant HA/ZrO₂-based AVB; the red arrow indicate the HA that under degradation; the green arrow indicate new bone, which was more immature would be tinted deeper blue; and the blue arrow indicate autologous.</p

Test results of new bone volume detected by micro-computed tomography at week 24.

<p>Test results of new bone volume detected by micro-computed tomography at week 24.</p

The ultimate compressive strength of the pure AVBs before implantation and in vitro specimens at week 24 after implantation.

<p>(* indicates significant difference between two groups, p<0.05).</p

Three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction of the new bone within 250 μm of the HA/ZrO₂ porous bioceramic AVB upper surface.

<p>(A) group A; (B) group B.</p