Bioresorbable Inorganic Setting Systems for Bone Repair

Calcium phosphate-based materials have become the first choice for surgeons when they look for a synthetic material for the repair and augmentation of bone. Numerous studies and commercial use over the last three decades have made these materials popular options. These materials are not without their negative aspects, and properties such as poor in vivo resorption and low setting pH are well documented. Magnesium phosphates represent a poorly investigated group of materials with chemical structures similar to those of the calcium phosphates.;Our results demonstrate that magnesium phosphate can be used in bone repair applications. Further study and development may lead to them becoming a viable alternative to calcium phosphates.;In this thesis we investigate magnesium phosphates for use as inorganic materials for bone repair. We demonstrated that heat-treatment of magnesium phosphate created a cement reactant, which upon mixing with citric acid or sodium phosphate solutions set to form a cement. Investigation into alternate applications for the cement showed the cement could be dip-coated onto titanium rods. The dip coating formulations were also tested for their ability to release bioactive compounds, showing a relationship between initial burst and sustained release with powder-to-liquid ratio. In vitro testing of the cement showed good biocompatibility with osteoblast-like cells, inducing the expression of osteoblast markers. Preliminary in vivo data showed good material resorption and osteoconduction compared to brushite by four weeks time.