Calcium Phosphate/Etidronate Disodium Biocement: Etidronate, Retarder or Accelerator

Bisphosphonate release from calcium phosphate cement has been investigated. We hypothesized that local delivery of bisphosphonate from the calcium phosphate cement improves the mechanical properties. Different samples with different concentration of Etidronate disodium have been made and analyzed. We observed a dual behavior from Etidronate in retarding and accelerating the setting of calcium phosphate cement in low and high concentration respectively. After soaking samples in simulated body fluid, an optimum concentration of Etidronate disodium was added to the calcium phosphate paste in order to achieve the best mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the formation of hydroxyapatite crystals. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to