Design of porous calcium phosphate cement composed of spherical porous granules based on precipitation of octacalcium phosphate

Abstract

It is crucial to develop calcium phosphate cements with high bone regeneration abilities. This study demonstrates synthesis of porous calcium phosphate cements that are set by precipitating octacalcium phosphate (OCP) using α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) and calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (DCPD). Porous spherical granules composed of α-TCP were mixed with either a DCPD powder or α-TCP/DCPD powder mixture as a binder. Next, an appropriate amount of water was added, and the mixture was kneaded. Notably, employing the α-TCP/DCPD powder mixture reduced the setting time of the cement to about 30 min. Porous cements with macropores and micropores were obtained upon precipitation of OCP. Dissolution rate of the obtained cement was higher than that of cements comprising Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatite porous ceramics. Our results suggest that this cement may exhibit excellent bone regeneration ability.