Hydroxyapatite (OHAp) particles with a specific surface area of 9 m(2)/g were obtained through a thermal treatment at 900 degreesC followed by deagglomeration by ball milling in ethanol for 20 h. Slurries with a 50-vol.% solids loading were prepared by mixing the particles with water. Organic inclusions with particles sizes from 55 to 750 mum were added and ceramic bodies were consolidated by slip casting. Dense and porous ceramic bodies were obtained with densities as low as 30% and as high as 94% and pore sizes up to 750 mum. The possibility of manufacturing ceramic bodies with porosity gradients designed according to the features of the porous ceramic bodies was studied in order to adapt them to the severe requirements of tissue engineering scaffolds. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.