Controlled degradation pattern of hydroxyapatite/calcium carbonate composite microspheres

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is widely used in clinic due to its good biocompatibility and osteoconductivity except for its slow degradation speed. In the present study, spherical calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ) is fabricated in the presence of silk protein sericin, which is transmuted into HAP microsphere in phosphate solution with the assistance of microwave irradiation. The effect of reaction conditions on the conversion of CaCO3 is investigated including reaction time, chemical composition of phosphate solution, and microwave power to get a series of HAP/CaCO3 composites. The degradation property of the composites is evaluated in vitro. Results show the degradation speed of the composite with higher HAP content is slower. The degradation rate of the composite could be changed effectively by modulating the proportion of HAP and CaCO3 . This work provides a feasible method for the preparation of spherical HAP/CaCO3 composite with controllable degradability. The composite thus obtained may be an ideal material for bone tissue engineering application. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:518-524, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Recent Advances in Silk Sericin/Calcium Phosphate Biomaterials

“…According to the results of Takeuchi et al (2005a), sericin/α-TCP materials show slower degradation in bone defect of rabbits, when compared to pure α-TCP. Other sericin/CaP composites, such as sericin/HAp/calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ), have also showed controllable degradability properties (Zhao et al, 2013;Yang et al, 2016). In published works, the formation of sericin/HAp composites, was achieved through the conversion of sericin/CaCO 3 particles using the assistance of microwave irradiation or via a hydrothermal method .…”

Investigations of silk fiber/calcium phosphate cement biocomposite for radial bone defect repair in rabbits

“…This study was based on the fiber-reinforcing principle in which we prepared SF into short fibers and then combined it with CPC, so the composite had both enhanced rigid strength and increased porosity; furthermore, with the constant degradation of SF in vivo, the porosity of the biocomposite was further increased, allowing it to promote bone cell ingrowth, promote Ca deposition, and accelerate bone replacement, thus facilitating the gradual absorbance of bone cement and achieving the purpose of ideal bone defect repair [ 15 ]. At the same time, the addition of SF can reduce the occurrence of CPC loosening after implantation, reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism [ 16 , 17 ], and increase the safety of CPC.…”

Polysaccharide-based scaffold for tissue-regeneration

“…However, other biominerals have also been studied for the bone-tissue engineering, and among these, the best candidate seems to be calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ). Calcium carbonates has better biodegradation rates than HAp while maintaining suitable mechanical properties [58]; in addition, it improves the biocompatibility and the osteoinductivity plus promotes the neovascularization in the grafts when implanted in vivo. Diaz-Rodriguez et al propose the synthesis of a mineralized calcium alginate hydrogel by the addition of calcium carbonate biomineral microparticles.…”