title: Functionalization of biomimetic calcium phosphate bone cements with alendronate.
abstract: Bisphosphonates (BPs) are widely employed for the treatment of a variety of bone disorders. We have previously successfully added small amounts of BPs into calcium phosphate bone cements in order to enhance their bio-functionality. In this work we were able to increase greatly the amount of BP introduced in the cement, thanks to suitable modifications of composition. In particular, we utilized biomimetic alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP) cements at different gelatin contents (10, 15 and 20 wt.%) to introduce Disodium Alendronate up to a concentration of 25 mM. Due to the small liquid/powder ratio (0.22 ml/g) the lengthening of the setting times due to alendronate is quite modest. The rate of transformation of alpha-TCP into calcium deficient hydroxyapatite slightly decreases as a function of alendronate content, whereas it increases with increasing gelatin concentration. Moreover, relatively high alendronate concentrations provoke significant reduction of the compressive strength of the cements. The results of in vitro tests indicate that alendronate-containing cements significantly affect osteoclast proliferation and differentiation, whereas they promote osteoblast differentiation, to an extent which depends on cement composition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panzavolta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Torricelli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bracci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bigi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019386:Alendronate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D015850:Interleukin-6; D015675:Osteocalcin; D019386:Alendronate