Preparation of calcium phosphate cement/silk fibroin composite materials

Silk fibroin(SF) powder was added into calcium phosphate cement(CPC) powder to prepare CPC/SF composite materials.The structure of materials was studied by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.The setting time of the composite materials was investigated by ISO Cement Standard Consistency Instrument.The surface morphology was observed by SEM.The results showed that the CPC powder mainly consists of dicalcium phosphate dehydrate(DCPD) and tetracalcium phosphate(TTCP).DCPD changed into hydroxyapatite (HA) during the harden process.With the same of liquid-to-powder ratio,when the ratio of silk fibroin varied from 0 to 3%,the setting time of the CPC/SF composite materials decreased with the increase of SF powder;when the ratio of SF powder increased from 3% to 4%,the CPC/SF composite materials were difficult to be mixed and impossible to be casted.The flexural strength of the cement increased when SF powder was added into CPC powder under this experimental conditions.