Porous hydroxyapatite ocular implant was fabricated by a novel and simple method using hydroxyapatite powder synthesized in the laboratory. The porosity and pore size of the implant were controlled to make it light in weight as well as suitable for rapid vascularization after implantation. The implant was characterized by X-ray diffraction studies, infrared spectra and chemical analysis for phase purity and chemical composition. The pore morphology and pore size distribution of the samples were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Thereafter, efficacy of the implant was examined by in vivo study in dogs. Clinical, haematological and radiological studies indicated the suitability of the implant for replacement of the lost eye of human patients.

Fracture toughness of glass is usually poor, due to the absence of grain boundaries and discontinuities. The compositions of the glass studied are in the phase separated region of SiO₂–B₂O₃–Na₂O system. The interface between the glass in glass separation enhances the fracture toughness. The increase in the connectivity of phase separated regions causes increase of fracture toughness from 0.98 through 1.43 to 1.54 MPam^1/2.

The optimumcombination of experimental variable, temperature, time of heat treatment under nitrogen atmosphere and amount of Ni-salt was delineated to find out the maximum yield of nanophase Ni in the silica gel matrix. The size of Ni in the silica gel was found to be 34 and 45 nm for the two chosen compositions, respectively. A statistically adequate regression equation, within 95% confidence limit was developed by carrying out a set of active experiments within the framework of design of experiment. The regression equation is found to indicate the beneficial role of temperature and time of heat treatment.