Control of crystallinity of hydrated products in a calcium phosphate bone cement

In this study, a calcium phosphate cement (CPC), consisting of partially crystallized calcium phosphate (PCCP), was synthesized. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and scanning electronic microscope (SEM) were used to characterize the cement. The results showed that by changing the ratio of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) to PCCP in the cement, hydrated products of controllable crystallinity were obtained. With increase in the relative amount of PCCP, the hydrated products changed gradually from very poor crystallinity with little needle-like hydroxyapatite (Hap) crystallites to relatively high crystallinity with more needle-like Hap crystallites; the compressive strength of the cement increased, and the degradation of the cement decreased. The cement was implanted into the tibia tubercle of healthy mature Zelanian white rabbits and the histological specimens were obtained after 4 and 16 weeks of implantation. The result revealed that this bone cement was biocompatible and showed very early osteoconductive properties. Thus, the CPC has potential for use in orthopedic surgery for filling non- load-bearing bone defects.