Study on biodegradable scaffold of self-hardening bone-like apatite

A novel biodegradable bone repair biomaterial of bone-like carbonated apatite with porous structure was prepared by using self-hardening calcium phosphate cement. Cell culture, degradation in simulated body liquid (SBF) and as a carrier for bone morphogenic protein (BMP) controllable releasing experiments were performed to evaluate the biocompatibility, degradation and BMP carrier properties of the porous scaffold. The results reveal that the degradation property of the carbonated apatite is better than hydroxyapatite, the more the Content of CO32- in apatite, the faster the degradation of the materials, the cell could attach, proliferate and differentiate on the porous scaffold, indicating that the bone like apatites not only have excellent biocompatibility but are also biodegradable and can be Used as carriers for BMP controlling release.