Modified calcium silicophosphate cements with improved properties

Abstract The synthesis and characterisation of inorganic phosphate cements based on calcium silicates (wollastonite and calcium disilicate) and phosphoric acid are presented in this paper. Nanopowders of barium titanate (BT) and biocellulose (BC) were used as additions (10 wt%) in order to improve their bioactivity for potential medical applications. The processing route of the precursors and the thermal treatment conditions had a high impact on the hardening processes and properties of calcium silicophosphate cements. The addition of BT and BC nanopowders determined the decrease of setting time (at the same liquid to powder ratio) but did not significantly influenced the mechanical properties of the resulted composites. In vitro biocompatibility tests showed no cellular oxidative stress, an increase of human stem cells proliferation on these materials and osteoconductive capacity by highlighting the presence of bone morphogenetic protein-1, osteopontin and alkaline phosphatase genes.