Influence of the Tricalcium Phosphate Phase on the Mechanical Strength and Biocompatibility of Calcium Phosphate Bone Cements

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cements are widely used in surgery to fix orthopaedic prostheses, such as joint replacements, in position and to repair bone defects for load-bearing applications. The other choice for bone cements is based on calcium phosphates. Advantages of calcium phosphate (CaP) bone cements include good biocompatibility, bioactivity, bioresorbtion and the opportunity to tune the composition and properties. A setting temperature close to the body temperature prevents damage to the surrounding bone. The main disadvantage of CaP bone cements is the low mechanical strength and this limits the application non-load-bearing sites for drug delivery systems and tissue engineering scaffolds. The aim of this work is to investigate the solid phase composition for improve the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of CaP bone cements