Development of Alkali Containing Calcium Phosphate Cements

Abstract

Commercially available calcium phosphate cements set by precipitation of nanoapatite or brushite. The goal of this study was to elucidate the most suitable conditions for forming cements from calcium potassium sodium phosphate. Furthermore, the behaviour of these cements after immersion in SBF and/or TRIS solution was investigated. Using varying additives resulted in differences in solubility kinetics. The XRD spectra of all investigated cement compositions displayed Ca2KNa(PO4)2 after setting. However, the various cement compositions differed with respect to apatite formation when immersed in TRIS buffer in and/or SBF solution. Therefore, when investigating calcium phosphate cements we consider it necessary to clearly differentiate between the phases which form after completion of the final setting time when these materials set in air, and the phases which form in a time dependant manner after immersion in different biological fluids.