NON-DECAY TYPE FAST-SETTING CALCIUM-PHOSPHATE CEMENT - SETTING BEHAVIOR IN CALF SERUM AND ITS TISSUE-RESPONSE

Non-decay type fast-setting calcium phosphate cement (nd-FSCPC) was ev aluated in terms of its setting behaviour in calf serum and its tissue response to investigate the feasibility of its clinical use in surgic al applications. Non-decay type cements were prepared by adding variou s amounts of sodium alginate to the liquid phase of base cements, fast -setting calcium phosphate cement (FSCPC) and conventional calcium pho sphate cement (c-CPC). Cement pastes were immersed in serum at 37 degr ees C immediately after mixing, and decay behaviour, setting time and mechanical strength were measured to evaluate the possibility of their use in surgical applications. Also, nd-FSCPC was implanted into rat s ubcutaneous tissue for the initial evaluation of biocompatibility of t his potential bioactive cement. nd-FSCPC set in approximately 6-7 min in serum, even when the cement paste was immersed in the serum immedia tely after mixing, whereas c-CPC and FSCPC decayed completely upon imm ersion. nd-FSCPC transforms to hydroxyapatite (HA) within 24 h and sho ws a diametral tensile strength of approximately 4-5 MPa. As a result of transformation to HA, nd-FSCPC showed excellent tissue response whe n implanted subcutaneously in rats. We conclude that nd-FSCPC has good potential value for use in orthopaedics, plastic and reconstructive s urgery, and oral and maxillofacial surgery, where the cement is expose d to blood. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited