Na-doped β-tricalcium phosphate: physico-chemical and in vitro biological properties

Synthetic calcium phosphate ceramics as β-tricalcium phosphate (Ca(3)(PO(4))(2); β-TCP) are currently successfully used in human bone surgery. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of the presence of sodium ion in β-TCP on its mechanical and biological properties. Five Na-doped-β-TCP [Ca(10.5-x/2)Na(x)(PO(4))(7), 0 ≤ x ≤ 1] microporous pellets were prepared via solid phase synthesis, and their physico-chemical data (lattice compacity, density, porosity, compressive strength, infrared spectra) denote an increase of the mechanical properties and a decrease of the solubility when the sodium content is raised. On the other hand, the in vitro study of MC3T3-E1 cell activity (morphology, MTS assay and ALP activity) shows that the incorporation of sodium does not modify the bioactivity of the β-TCP. These results strongly suggest that Na-doped-β-TCP appear to be good candidates for their use as bone substitutes.