Preparation and in vitro degradation study of the porous dual alpha/beta-tricalcium phosphate bioceramics

The ideal bone tissue engineering scaffolds are long-cherished with the properties of suitable three-dimensional structure, controlled biodegradability and acceptable biocompatibility. Here, the porous biphasic α/β-tricalcium phosphate (α/β-TCP) bioceramics with different two phase ratios of α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) were successfully synthesised by heating an amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) precursor containing pore-forming agent. The crystalline and morphological characterisation revealed that α- and β-TCP phases co-existed in the α/β-TCP bioceramics and they had interconnected pore structures with size between 200 and 500 μm. The degradation behaviours of the biphasic α/β-TCPs were also probed in physiological saline solution under static and dynamic environments for the first time. The results showed that dissolution rate of α/β-TCP bioceramics in dynamic environment was higher than that under static conditions. Compared with monophasic TCP ceramics, these por...