Role of macropore size in the mechanical properties and in vitro degradation of porous calcium phosphate cements

The goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of macropore size on the compressive strength and in vitro degradation of porous calcium phosphate cements (CPCs). For this purpose, a series of porous CPCs with three different macropore sizes (200-300 mu m, 300-450 mu m and 450-600 mu m) and comparable porosity were prepared by salting-out method, and the study of in vitro degradation behavior was carried out under a constant fluid flow environment. The results showed that the increase in macropore size of CPCs with invariant porosity resulted in a decrease in the compressive strength but an increase in the degradation rate of CPCs significantly, suggesting the possibility that the degradation rate and compressive strength of biomaterials can be regulated by varying the macropore size while maintaining the porosity unchanged. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.