Preparation and characterization of bioactive cockle shell aragonite/ gypsum composite as bone cement for bone repair

Abstract

Introduction: As the demand for bone defect treatment grows, a natural bone graft cannot be fulfilled the order. Therefore, the development of artificial bone graft is essential for biomedical applications. In this study, the feasibility of bioactive cockle shell Aragonite/ Gypsum composite as bone cement for bone repair has been demonstrated. It is meaningful to use the by-products from the food industry, such as cockle shells for the preparation of valuable biomedical materials.

Method: Bioactive cockle shell Aragonite/Gypsum composite as bone cement was prepared using cockle shell and Calcium Sulfate Hemihydrate (CaSO4. 0.5H2O) powder mixtures with different weight ratios. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to characterize phase composition and structure. Mechanical strength was evaluated in terms of Diametral Tensile Strength (DTS), and in vitro bioactivity was investigated using Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) solution.

Results: The results indicated that cockleshell Aragonite/Gypsum composite as bone cement is bioactive, and its properties depend on weight mixing ratios. In conclusion, cockle shell Aragonite/Gypsum composite is ideal for reconstructing bone defects due to its bioactivity and abundant supply.