Solubility and Ingrowth Behaviour of Degradable and Figuline Calcium Alkaline Phosphate Cements

Abstract

The thrust of the investigations presented here is to point out the degradation behaviour in vitro and the ingrowth behaviour in vivo of four different calcium alkaline phosphate cements. Two of the figuline and mouldable composites consist of the crystalline phase Ca2KNa(PO4)2 and two of the crystalline phase Ca10[K/Na](PO4)2 each containing 2wt% medium gel strength porcine gelatin. Furthermore Α-TCP was added to both Ca10[K/Na](PO4)2 cements as a hardening supporting reactant. The testing material groups differ in small amorphous portions containing either silica phosphate (GB9), magnesium potassium phosphate (GB14) or diphosphates (401545 and 401545(70)). The respective composites show a monomodal particle size distribution (d50~7µm; span~4) and an average total porosity around 28vol%.For the solubility studies cylindrical samples (d=6mm; h=12mm) were stored in a 0.1mol TRIS buffer solution and incubated at 37°C for maximum 50 weeks. The storage solution was analysed and renewed every week. The results are plotted cumulative. For the in vivo studies critical size defects were dissected to mandibles in a sheep model in which a 1cm3 area of the bottom of the mandibles was surgically resected and replaced with the figuline cements whereas the mouldability allows the reconstruction of the original outer contour without draining off even when replacing upside down.