Investigation of biocompatible nanosized materials for development of strong calcium phosphate bone cement: Comparison of nano-titania, nano-silicon carbide and amorphous nano-silica

Abstract The present paper deals with the effect of adding SiC, TiO 2 and SiO 2 nanoparticles on setting time, mechanical strength and hydraulic reactions of calcium phosphate cements (CPCs). The initial and final setting times of CPC increased by adding both nano-SiC and nano-TiO 2 additives but decreased by using nano-silica. Nano-titania and nano-silica had great effect on compressive strength of as-set CPC whereas slight changes were found by using nano-SiC. Although a sharp increase in compressive strength of all cements was observed by soaking them in physiological solution, the soaked additive-free cements and nano-SiO 2 -added ones exhibited the greatest strength values. The results showed that adding these nano-additives did not influence on conversion rate of cement reactants to apatite phase during soaking in physiological solution period but the morphology of the formed phase was almost different. Overall, the results determined that nano-SiO 2 and nano-TiO 2 particles were appropriate additives to improve short-term mechanical strength of CPCs a(s-set CPCs), though nano-SiO 2 was found more effective because it improves the long-term mechanical strength of CPC (after soaking) too.