Enhancement of mechanical strength and osteogenesis, and inhibition of osteoclastic activity for β-tricalcium phosphate bioceramics by incorporating calcium silicate and magnesium-strontium phosphate

• Published in: Ceramics international Vol. 47; no. 17; pp. 24191 - 24197
• Main Authors: Feng, Songheng, He, Fupo, Fang, Xibo, Deng, Xin, Lu, Teliang, Ye, Jiandong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2021
• Subjects: Bioceramics; Calcium phosphate; Cell-biological performances; Mechanical strength; Bioceramics; Calcium phosphate; Mechanical strength; Cell-biological performances
• ISSN: 0272-8842; 1873-3956
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2021.05.130

β-tricalcium phosphate bioceramics suffer from a drawback of poor mechanical strength and a scarcity of capacity to regulate biological performances. In the current study, the overall performances of β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) bioceramics were improved by incorporating calcium silicate (CS) and magnesium-strontium phosphate (MSP). During the sintering process, the MSP stabilized the β phase of TCP, and the formation of MSP melt ensured effective liquid-sintering of TCP, thus conducing to lower porosity of TCP/MSP and TCP/CS/MSP bioceramics. In comparison with the TCP bioceramics, the TCP/CS and TCP/MSP bioceramics showed lower compressive strength, while the TCP/CS/MSP bioceramics attained noticeably higher compressive strength. Due to the sustained release of therapeutical ions, the TCP/CS bioceramics enhanced in vitro early-stage osteoblastic differentiation, but compromised cell proliferation; both the TCP/MSP and TCP/CS/MSP bioceramics enhanced cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation, and restrained osteoclastic activities. Collectively, the TCP/CS/MSP bioceramics with optimal overall performances are promising for efficaciously treating the defects of osteoporotic bone.