Calcium Phosphate Cement Applications in Bone Tissue Engineering

Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) are self-setting biomaterials formulated from calcium phosphate powders and aqueous phases. Upon mixing they form a paste that hardens in situ to produce a porous, biocompatible matrix chemically similar to bone mineral. CPCs combine osteoconductive scaffolding with tuneable resorption rates, enabling gradual replacement by native bone. Advances in compositional modifications, such as inclusion of bioactive glasses, magnesium ions, polymers or fibres, have enhanced mechanical strength, injectability and osteoinductive capacity. These cements support cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation, and can be adapted to deliver therapeutic agents or growth factors. Novel fabrication methods, including three-dimensional printing and injectable systems, permit the creation of patient-specific implants that conform to complex defect geometries. Globally, CPCs have shown promise in craniofacial, vertebral and long-bone applications, offering minimally invasive alternatives to autografts and allografts, with reduced morbidity and improved integration.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Research from all publishers

Recent developments in other publications include the design of bioactive glass-based CPCs that set rapidly in situ and generate octacalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite phases. These formulations exhibit excellent biocompatibility in vitro and, in minipig mandible models, are completely replaced by native bone within 12 weeks, illustrating their potential as injectable grafts.
Another study has integrated magnesium malate into CPCs to enhance mechanical properties and osteoinductive signalling. This modified cement releases magnesium ions that stimulate prostaglandin E2 and calcitonin gene-related peptide pathways, promoting osteoblast differentiation and significantly improving bone regeneration and vascularisation in vertebral defect models without adverse systemic effects.
A foundational review has summarised strategies to tailor CPC performance via 3D printing, stem cell and growth factor delivery, and scaffold vascularisation. Pre-vascularisation techniques such as co-culture and tri-culture systems have been highlighted for their role in enhancing angiogenesis and osteogenesis within CPC constructs, laying the groundwork for next-generation bone repair materials.

Calcium Phosphate Cement Applications in Bone Tissue Engineering publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in calcium phosphate cement applications in bone tissue engineering across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Calcium phosphate cement (CPC): A self-setting paste composed of calcium phosphate powders and a liquid phase that hardens in situ resembling bone mineral.
Osteoconductivity: The property of a material that supports the attachment and growth of new bone along its surface.
Osteoinductivity: The capacity of a material to induce progenitor cells to differentiate into osteoblasts.
Bioactivity: The ability of a material to form a direct bond with surrounding tissue through surface reactions in physiological environments.
Injectability: The ease with which a paste can be delivered through a syringe to fill irregular defect shapes.
Pre-vascularisation: Techniques used to establish blood vessel networks within a scaffold prior to implantation to support tissue integration.

References

1. Development of a Novel Formulation of Bioactive Glass Based Calcium Phosphate Cement for Bone Grafting. Advanced Functional Materials (2024).
2. Magnesium malate-modified calcium phosphate bone cement promotes the repair of vertebral bone defects in minipigs via regulating CGRP. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2024).
3. Calcium phosphate cements for bone engineering and their biological properties. Bone Research (2017).