Study of the reactivity and in vitro bioactivity of Sr-substituted alpha-TCP cements.

In this study the effect of strontium substitution on the hydrolysis of alpha -tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP) toward the formation of calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) was investigated. For that purpose substituted alpha-TCP powders with 1, 5 and 10 mol% Sr substitution for Ca were synthesized by reacting at 1500 degrees C stoichiometric amounts of CaCO(3), SrCO(3), and Ca(2)P(2)O(7), followed by rapid quenching in air. XRD analysis of the powders revealed the presence of alpha-TCP (traces of beta-TCP) with enlarged unit cell volume at increased Sr contents, indicating the incorporation of Sr in the crystal structure. Strontium was also incorporated in the apatite phase as revealed by XRD analysis of the set cements. The hydrolysis of milled alpha-SrTCP powders and a pure alpha-TCP (control) was monitored by isothermal calorimetry and the compressive strength of set cements was tested. The results showed a decrease in the reactivity with increasing Sr content and similar final mechanical strength within the Sr series, though lower than the control. The in vitro bioactivity of the set cements after soaking in simulated body fluid for 4 weeks was also tested. The formation of a bone-like apatite layer on the surface of the set cements indicated a potential in vivo bioactivity.