Zinc-releasing calcium phosphate cements for bone substitute materials

The goal of the present study was to develop zinc-doped calcium phosphate bone cements (CPCs-Zn) for functionalized bone grafts applications. An aqueous co-precipitation process for synthesis of beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP)powder samples with Zn addition ranging from 0 wt% up to 1.2 wt% was proposed as an alternative approach to produce CPCs-Zn, instead of mechanical mixing of powders. Real-time monitoring of structural transformations and kinetics of CPCs-Zn (Zn = 0 wt%, 0.6 wt% and 1.2 wt%) was carried out by the Energy Dispersive X-Ray Diffraction technique. The microstructure development in CPCs-Zn was investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Zn-ion release from CPC-Zn 0.6 wt% and CPC-Zn 1.2 wt% cements, measured by the Atomic Emission Spectroscopy, corresponded to the average values of 0.30 +/- 0.01 and 0.10 +/- 0.01 mu g/L, respectively. The results of antibacterial tests proved the inhibitory effect towards pathogenic Escherichia coli only for the CPC-Zn 0.6 wt% cement formulation. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.