Design and characterization of injectable abalone shell/calcium sulfate bone cement scaffold for bone defect repair

Abstract

• Abalone shell-derived bone cement was prepared according to the bionic principle. • The injectable and setting time of bone cement was extended to meet clinical injectable operation time. • The rate of degradation of bone cement was reduced to match the rate of new bone formation. • The cement composite exhibited the brilliant effects of bone regeneration. Abalone is a precious food and abalone shell can also be used as an ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine. However, large numbers of abalone shells are thrown away which results in resource waste and even environmental pollution. We have prepared an injectable natural bioactivity Abalone shell/calcium sulfate composite cement scaffold. Besides, we did a series of physiochemical, cellular, and animal tests. All results display that the scaffold owns good mechanical properties, predominant mineralization and controllable degradation properties. Also, the cement possesses excellent bioactivity, it can promote proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast to facilitate bone reconstruction. Thus, Abalone shell/Calcium sulfate composite cement scaffold would provide a new approach for both abalone high-value utilization and the clinical irregular bone defects rebuilding.