Osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) induced by three calcium phosphate ceramic (CaP) powders: A comparative study

•BCP, TCP and HA powders showed a positive osteogenic differentiation effect.•BCP powders showed the most prominent effect on osteoinduction among three CaPs.•BCP may have better application prospects for repairing of bone defects in clinic.

Calcium phosphate ceramics (CaPs) appear to be suitable alternatives for bone grafts because of their similarity to bone. Tricalcium phosphate (TCP), hydroxyapatite (HA) and biphasic calcium phosphates (BCP) are most commonly used CaPs. In this study, we studied and compared the osteoinductive ability of the powders of the three CaPs including HA, TCP and BCP (HA/β-TCP weight ratio of 60/40) by using bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Osteoblastic formation, mineralization and gene expression of osteogenesis markers were measured in MSCs after 7, 14, 21 days of culture. Results showed a positive osteogenic differentiation effect of CaPs powders on MSCs as evidenced by an increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, positive ALP and Alizarin Red S staining, and upregulated osteoblastic gene expression compared with control. For the three CaPs, BCP powders showed the most prominent effect on osteoinduction. Next to BCP is TCP. Thus, this study supported that BCP may have better application prospects for repairing of bone defects in clinic.