Preparation and Evaluation of Cements using Spherical Porous β-Tricalcium Phosphate Granules

Abstract

Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) with macropores and micropores for high bone regeneration ability are desired. CPCs with macropores and micropores which were prepared by combining porous granules have been reported. In this study, the cement system composed of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) granules and phosphoric acid solution was selected, and the effects of the characteristics of granules on the microstructures and properties of the cements were examined. The spherical porous β-TCP granules with high porosity and irregular porous β-TCP granules with low porosity were prepared, and they were mixed with a phosphoric acid solution. When the spherical porous granules with high porosity were used, the granules were packed uniformly in the cement, and the size distribution of the macropores formed among the granules was narrower than that of the cement prepared using the irregular porous β-TCP granules with low porosity. The cement with high porosity can be obtained from the spherical porous granules with high porosity. The cement prepared using the spherical granules with high porosity showed lower compressive strength and higher dissolution rate than the cement prepared using irregular granules with low porosity.