Strontium doped injectable bone cement for potential drug delivery applications

- Brushite cement containing Sr was synthesized from Ca2.46Sr0.5(PO4)2.
- Strontium doped brushite cement has final setting time of 25 min.
- The cement has compressive strength of 34 Mpa.
- 69% injectability was achieved through strontium doping.

Microwave assisted wet precipitation method was used to synthesize calcium deficient strontium doped β-tricalcium phosphate (Sr-βTCP) with a chemical formula of Ca2.96-xSrx(PO4)2. Sr-βTCP was reacted with monocalcium phosphate monohydrate [Ca(H2PO4)2.H2O, MCPM] in presence of water to furnish corresponding Sr containing brushite cement (Sr-Brc). The samples were characterized by using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Strontium content in the prepared samples was determined by using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The effect of Sr2+ ions on the structural, mechanical, setting properties and drug release of the cement is reported. Incorporation of Sr2+ ions improved the injectability, setting time and mechanical properties of the Brc. The release profiles of antibiotics incorporated in Brc and Sr-Brc confirmed that the Sr incorporation into the Brc results in the efficient release of the antibiotics from the cement.