Accelerated Self-Hardening Tetracalcium Phosphate Based Bone Cement with Enhanced Strength and Biological Behaviour

Tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) is the most basic phase among the calcium phosphate bioceramics. TTCP has been used as self setting bone cement and its relatively high surface pH seems to be very beneficial for cell adhesion and bone formation. Various attempts have been made to improve the cement properties for the ease of use during the surgical procedures. The effect of citric acid (CA) on the setting properties, apatite forming ability, strength and biological behavior of TTCP based bone cement has been studied in detail in the present study. The cement formulation containing 15 % CA has been found to have setting time between 9 and 16 min suitable for bone cement. It also showed complete conversion to apatite phase and highest compressive strength after 28 days of immersion in phosphate buffer at physiological conditions. Cell culture studies using rat skeletal muscle cells confirm higher cell viability in the CA containing cements compared to the pure cement without CA content. The results suggest that self-hardening tetracalcium phosphate based bone cement modified with CA holds a promise for its use in orthopaedic and trauma surgery.