BACKGROUND: Calcium phosphate cement cannot only be used as a bone repair material but also serve as drug carriers due to its good biocompatibility.
OBJECTIVE: To prepare drug-loaded tricalcium phosphate (TCP) bone cement, and to analyze its in vitro release properties.
METHODS: First, TCP precursor powder was prepared by co-precipitation method. Second, α-TCP was obtained after it was powdered at high temperature. Then, in vitro drug release concentrations of bone cement with 1.25%, 2.5%, 3.75% and 5% antibiotics (cefradine, cephalexin or ciprofloxacin) after different soaking time (6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days and 8 days) were tested.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The particle size of TCP power prepared by co-precipitation was about 2 μm, and it had good crystallinity. In vitro releases of bone cement loaded with cephalexin, cefradine and ciprofloxacin were subject to their physical properties. Bone cement loaded with ciprofloxacin could meet long-time release and reach a more ideal release concentration. The release effect of cephalosporin drugs was not very good due to their stability and other reasons. While, cephalexin hydrolysis rate was low, and the photodegradation of ciprofloxacin was in relatively harsh conditions, so their release was not affected, which was basically consistent with the Higuchi model. But cefradine hydrolysis rate was relatively higher, and the system release driving force was much affected, which could cause the release no longer follow the Higuchi model.