Behavior of a calcium phosphate cement in simulated blood plasma in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the integration of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) implants in biological tissue.


METHODS
An in vitro continuous flow system was employed to examine the protracted behavior of disc-shaped specimens of this bioactive material under sustained physiological-like solution conditions. Weight measurement, diameteral tensile strength measurement (DTS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the CPC samples as a function of immersion time.


RESULTS
When CPC was immersed in simulated blood plasma in which the Ca (2.5 mmol/L) and inorganic phosphate (1.0 mmol/L) levels were kept constant, both the weight and DTS of the specimens steadily increased to about 1.5 times their original values over a period of 20 wk. SEM observations showed new precipitate formations in intimate contact with the original CPC surface. FTIR and XRD analyses revealed that the precipitate was a B-type carbonate hydroxyapatite (OHAp), the type of OHAp observed in bone and dentin. On the other hand, the interior of CPC discs did not show an increase in either bulk density or OHAp content. Thus, the increases in weight and DTS are attributable to the OHAp precipitation on the CPC surface.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that under in vivo conditions, CPC implants would not dissolve in physiological fluids. OHAp coatings may form on the implants, which may enhance bonding of implants to bone by mechanically strengthening the interface between them.
Ishikawa
K
K
Department of Dental Engineering, School of Dentistry, Tokushima University, Japan.
Takagi
S
S
Chow
L C
LC
Ishikawa
Y
Y
Eanes
E D
ED
Asaoka
K
K
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001802:Blood Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D003738:Dental Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry; D007101:Immersion; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001802:Blood Substitutes; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D003738:Dental Cements; C485828:alpha-tricalcium phosphate; C485830:tetracalcium phosphate; C485838:calcium phosphate, monobasic, anhydrous; D017886:Durapatite; C020243:calcium phosphate; C485829:calcium phosphate, dibasic, anhydrous