Influence of Dopamine on Physicochemical Properties of Calcium Phosphate Cement

The aim of this study is to investigate effects of dopamine (DA) on physiochemical properties of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) and in vitro degradation of DA from CPC. DA was dissolved in Tris (Hydroxymethyl) aminomethane-hydrochloric acid buffer solution and mixed the solution with CPC powders after oxidized for 2 d in air. Orthogonal test was used to optimize the preparation of CPC with respect to the DA concentration, ratio of liquid to solid and pH values. Compressive tests, Gilmore needle tests, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the physiochemical properties of CPC. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and UV-Vis spectrophotometry were used to observe the micromorphology of CPC and in vitro degradation of DA from CPC, respectively. Compressive test and orthogonal analysis indicated that the optimal combination CPC was DA concentration 40 mg.mL(-1), ratio of liquid to solid 0.3 mL.g(-1) and pH value 8.5, which had the highest compressive strength with significant difference (p <0.01) compared with that of CPC-Blank. Setting time of the optimal combination CPC decreased slight but no significant difference compared to that of CPC-Blank, which could satisfied with the clinical demands. XRD and FTIR demonstrated that the addition of DA promoted the conversion of dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD). SEM found that there were more platy structure, lots of nubbly crystals and less porosity in optimal combination CPC compared with CPC-Blank. Cumulative release of DA from CPC was 29.7% and the pH values of immersion solution were safe for human body during in vitro degradation.