Biodegradable bone cement using calcium phosphate glass

Abstract

In preliminary ageing test, the cement using only calcium phosphate glass as power phase cracked with 1 day in simulated body fluid because of high dissolution rate of the cement. We added 30 wt% of either β-TCP or HA to 70 wt% calcium phosphate glass as powder phase to control the dissolution rate of the cement and performed in vitro ageing test in simulated body fluid by dynamic protocol as well as static protocol to confirm the possibility of controlling. Adding either β-TCP or HA to the cement increases the setting time and decreases the compressive strength. In dynamic assay, the pH of extract is maintained over 7. However, pH decreased to around 5 in static assay. Therefore, weight loss by static protocol continuously increased for 14 days, while weight loss by dynamic protocol almost saturated. In XRD patterns of ageing cements, CaO peaks appeared. CaO peak was maximized most lately in dynamic assay of the cement adding HA and within 7 days, the cement adding HA showed higher weight loss. It is indicated that CaO formed in surface of the cement hinder the dissolution of the cement. In addition, compressive strength increased when the CaO peak was maximized.