Calcium phosphate cement to prepare Sr-containing biomaterials

A new route, based on the use of ionic calcium phosphate cements, has been developed to synthesize calcium strontium hydroxyapatite. Cements were prepared from tetracalcium phosphate, alpha -tricalcium phosphate, phosphoric acid, strontium nitrate and water and were then mixed and shaped. Cements with various amounts of strontium (0 to 4.3 wt%) were prepared. All the materials obtained were coherent and solid. Mixed hydroxyapatite was obtained at low temperatures. Mixed calcium strontium apatite was obtained after heating. This original method can be of interest for the preparation of biomaterials because strontium plays a part in the mineralisation of bone. The steady release of strontium was studied and can lead to a better osteointegration of the biomaterial.