The effect of Zn contents on phase composition, chemical stability and cellular bioactivity in Zn–Ca–Si system ceramics

Abstract

Ca-Si system ceramics, in particular CaSiO(3) ceramics, are regarded as potential bioactive bone repair/regeneration material. However, their high dissolution rate limits their biological applications. The aim of this study was to incorporate Zinc (Zn) into the Ca-Si system ceramics to produce part (at 10 and 20% Zn) or complete (at 50% Zn) new crystal phase (hardystonite: Ca(2)ZnSi(2)O(7)) with improved chemical stability and cellular activity. Zn-Ca-Si ceramics with four Zn contents (0, 10, 20, and 50%) were successfully prepared by sintering sol-gel-derived Zn-Ca-Si powder compacts. A new pure crystal phase Ca(2)ZnSi(2)O(7) was formed only when 50% Zn was added. The chemical stability of Zn-Ca-Si ceramics was evaluated by soaking in simulating body fluid (SBF), and the ion release from ceramics and the change in pH values of the SBF were measured. Their ability to form apatite in SBF was determined by analyzing the surface phase composition and morphology of the ceramics using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicated that, with the increase of Zn contents, the chemical stability of ceramics increased while the apatite-formation ability decreased. The ability of Zn-Ca-Si ceramics to support attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of the human bone osteoblastic-like cells (HOB) was assessed using SEM, MTS, and alkaline phosphate activity assays, respectively. Zn-Ca-Si ceramics supported HOB attachment and their proliferation increased with the increase of Zn content. ALP activity of HOB on Zn-Ca-Si ceramics with 50% Zn (Ca(2)ZnSi(2)O(7)) was the highest among the levels obtained for the four ceramics tested. Taken together, Ca(2)ZnSi(2)O(7) ceramics possessed the best chemical stability and cellular bioactivity in Zn containing Ca-Si ceramics, indicating their potential application in skeletal tissue regeneration.