Fabrication of self‐setting β‐tricalcium phosphate granular cement

Abstract Bone defect reconstruction would be greatly improved if β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) granules had the ability to self‐set without sacrificing their osteoconductivity potential. This study aimed to identify a method to permit β‐TCP self‐setting whilst maintaining good osteoconductivity. When mixed with acidic calcium phosphate solution, β‐TCP granules were found to readily set, forming a fully interconnected porous structure. On mixing, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate crystals formed on the surface of β‐TCP granules, bridging the granules and resulting in the setting reaction. The setting time of the β‐TCP granular cement (β‐TCP GC) was approximately 1 min and its mechanical strength, in terms of diametral tensile strength, was approximately 0.8 MPa. The β‐TCP GC and β‐TCP granules both showed the same level of osteoconductivity within rat calvaria bone defects. At 2 and 4 weeks post‐implantation, new bone formation was comparable between the two β‐TCP based bone substitutes. We conclude that β‐TCP GC has excellent potential for use as a cement in bone defect reconstruction. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 800–807, 2018.