Calcium phosphate bioceramic granules associated with hydrosoluble polymers were developed as bone substitutes for various
maxillofacial and orthopaedic applications. These injectable bone substitutes, support and regenerate bone tissue and resorb
after implantation. The efficiency of these multiphasic materials is due to the osteogenic and osteoconductive properties
of the microporous biphasic calcium phosphate. The associated hydrosoluble polymers are considered as carriers in order to
achieve the rheological properties of injectable bone substitutes (IBS). In this study, we used 2 semi synthetic hydrosoluble
polymers of polysaccharidic origin. The hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), with and without silane, was combined with
microporous BCP granules. The presence of silane induced considerable gelation of the suspension. The 2 IBS used (without
gelation, IBS1, with gelation, IBS2) were implanted in critical size femoral epiphysis defects in rabbits. No foreign body
reactions were observed in either sample. However, because of the higher density from gelation, cell colonisation followed
by bone tissue ingrowth was delayed over time with IBS2 compared to the IBS1 without gelation. The results showed resorption
of the BCP granule and bone ingrowth at the expense of both IBS with different kinetics. This study demonstrates that the
hydrogel cannot be considered merely as a carrier. The gelation process delayed cell and tissue colonisation by slow degradation
of the HPMC Si, compared to the faster release of HPMC with IBS1, in turn inducing faster permeability and spaces for tissue
ingrowth between the BCP granules.