Compositional changes to brushite cements to improve mechanical and antibiotic-delivery properties
Claudia Morilla Espino (Leiden University Medical Center)
Louise van der Weerd (Leiden University Medical Center)
Lioe Fee de Geus-Oei (University of Twente, Leiden University Medical Center, TU Delft - RST/Radiation, Science and Technology)
Jeroen J.J.P. van den Beucken (Radboud University Medical Center)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
Brushite calcium phosphate cements (bCPCs) are promising synthetic bone substitutes due to their bioactivity, osteoconductivity, and controlled degradation. However, their clinical use is limited by poor handling, low mechanical strength, and insufficient antimicrobial capability. This study explores the incorporation of α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) and silk fibroin (SF) to enhance bCPC performance and enable localized antibiotic delivery using tetracycline (TC). Adding α-TCP improved compressive strength (up to 2.65 MPa), while SF in liquid or fiber form reinforced the matrix. The inclusion of TC and SF extended setting times (4–7 min initial; 7–30 min final) and maintained injectability (up to 50 %). Drug release studies showed a 10 % burst in the first 24 h, with a sustained release of 77 % over 14 days. These multifunctional bCPCs offer injectable, resorbable, and antibacterial properties, making them suitable for non-load-bearing bone repair applications.
help_outline