Calcium phosphate cements improved by addition of carbonated Hydroxyapatite type B

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The need for biodegradable bone graft biomaterials in orthopedic surgeries is more often each day due to the promotion of natural tissue regeneration. One option is calcium phosphate cements (CPC), that are also osseconductors. However, their low mechanical properties restrict their application to low mechanical requirement areas of the body. The CPC mechanical resistance depends on the entanglement grade of the calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA), one option to improve it is trough incorporation of nucleating agents (e.g., stoichiometrically hydroxyapatite). This work proposes the use of a biodegradable nucleating agent, as it is Type B carbonated Hydroxyapatite (CHA-B), to improve the CPC performance. It was formulated compositions of alpha tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) with variations on the amount of CHA-B (0–5–10–15wt.%). The compression resistance was evaluated and results indicated that 5% CHA-B increases the strength (7.8%) and the elastic modulus (6.16%), while the other additions diminished such values. Besides, the effect on the setting time, the in vitro degradation and in the physicochemical properties was determined through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy.