Calcium Aluminate Cement Blends Containing Bioactive Glass and Strontium for Biomaterial Applications

Abstract

In this work blends based on calcium aluminate cement (CAC) containing bioactive glass (BG) (5, 7.5 and 10 wt%) and strontium oxide (1 wt%) were produced aiming improve their bioactivity and the capacity to stimulate the bone regeneration. In the first part, the blends containing only BG were characterized as theoretical density, microhardness, uniaxial cold crush strength after SBF and apparent porosity and pore size distribution before and after SBF treatment. In the second part, bioactivity and cell culture tests were also conducted in the blends containing BG and strontium oxide. The addition of 7.5 wt% of BG in homogeneous calcium aluminate cement (CH) improved its mechanical properties as microhardness and uniaxial cold crushing strength. The blends were more bioactive due to the presence of a highly soluble amorphous phase as confirmed by means of SEM/EDX mainly for 7.5 wt% BG without and with Sr from 1 day in SBF. FTIR analyses indicated the formation the apatite-like phase by means of increase of intensity of the PO 4 3peaks after SBF treatment. All blends allowed the development of the osteoblastic phenotype and the formation of mineralized matrix increased due to the inclusion of BG and Sr promoting the osteogenesis process.

Review of Physical, Mechanical, and Biological Characteristics of 3D-Printed Bioceramic Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications

“…The addition of 7.5% and 10% BG to the CAC resulted in compressive strengths of 55 and 50 MPa, respectively. Both of these values are compatible with the compressive strength range of cortical bone . The 90:10 CAC/BG scaffold after immersion in the SBF for 21 days showed a compressive strength of 3.31 MPa …”