The use of calcium phosphates, their biological properties

Physicochemical degradation studies of calcium phosphate glass ceramic in the CaO-P2O5-MgO-TiO2 system

The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro degradation behaviour of a 45CaO-37P(2)O(5)-5MgO-13TiO(2) (mol.%) glass ceramic, under two different simulated physiological conditions: normal physiological pH 7.4, and pH 3.0, which was designed to simulate the acidic conditions produced by osteoclast cells. The in vitro testing was carried out at 37 degrees C for up to 42 days for the pH 7.4 solution and for up to 1 day for the pH 3.0 solution. The incorporation of TiO(2) into the glass structure leads to the precipitation of specific crystalline phases in the glass matrix, namely alpha- and beta-Ca(2)P(2)O(7), TiP(2)O(7) and CaTi(4)(PO(4))(6). The degradation testing at pH 3.0 showed a higher weight loss compared with degradation testing at pH 7.4; the weight loss under the acidic condition after 1 day (24 h) was about 10 times higher than the weight loss after 42 days of immersion at pH 7.4. The ionic release profile of Ca(2+), PO(4)(3-), Mg(2+) and Ti(4+) showed a continuous increase in concentration over all immersion times for both testing solutions. After 1 day of immersion at pH 3.0, the concentration levels of Mg(2+), Ca(2+), PO(4)(3-) were about six times higher than the levels achieved after 42 days of immersion at pH 7.4. The glass ceramic showed similar degradation to hydroxyapatite, and therefore has potential to be used in certain clinical applications where relatively slow resorption of the implant and replacement by bone is required, e.g. cranioplasty.

In vitro studies of calcium phosphate glass ceramics with different solubility with the use of human bone marrow cells

Two glass ceramics in the CaO--P2O5--MgO system with the incorporation of K2O or TiO2 oxides were prepared with the goal of using them as potential bone graft substitutes. The incorporation of TiO2 and K2O led to the preparation of specific crystalline phases in the structure of the glass ceramics, which show different degrees of biodegradation. In fact, the 45CaO--45P2O5--5MgO--5K2O has been previously demonstrated to be much more soluble in aqueous solutions than the 45CaO--37P2O5--5MgO--13TiO2 glass ceramic. The in vitro biological activity of the two calcium phosphate glass ceramics was studied with the use of human bone marrow osteoblast cell cultures maintained for 28 days, and seeded materials were assessed for cell proliferation and function. The Ti-containing glass ceramic showed a stable surface throughout the culture time, on macroscopic and SEM observation. Osteoblast cells proliferated gradually, especially during the third week, with a high alkaline phosphatase activity and formation of a mineralized matrix. On SEM observation, attached cells appeared with a spread-polygonal morphology typical of the osteoblast cells, with extensive cell-to-cell contact. Cell behavior on the seeded material was similar to that found on cultures performed on tissue-culture-grade polystyrene; except for the presence of lower cell numbers during the first 2 weeks. By contrast, the K-containing glass ceramic showed a highly instable surface with dissolution/precipitation processes occurring throughout the culture time. Few cells adhered to the material surface, and subsequent proliferation was also hindered, especially from the first week onwards. Cell numbers were significantly lower than those observed in the Ti-containing glass ceramic during most of the incubation time. Results suggest that the different in vitro biological behavior of these two glass ceramics is mainly due to the significant differences in the surface degradation rate, which is directly correlated to the chemical composition of the mother glass.