Production of in-situ macropores in an injectable calcium phosphate cement by introduction of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide

In the present study, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) was introduced to an injectable calcium phosphate cement (CPC) to produce macropores during the setting process to accelerate the absorbing ability in vivo. The effects of CTAB on the rheological properties, injectability, setting time, compressive strength, phase evolution, microstructure and degradation rate of CPC were studied. The results showed that the addition of CTAB increased the viscosity and yield stress, and decreased the injectability of the cement pastes. The macroporosity and total porosity increased and the compressive strength of the cement obviously decreased with the increase of CTAB. The macroporosity of the CPC prepared at 5 mM CTAB solution reached 44.2 +/- 2.5% and the mass loss of the cement increased almost 50% as compared with the cement without CTAB. Considering the injectability, compressive strength and degradation rate of CPC, the preferred CTAB concentration was 5 mM. The injectable CPC with macropores is promising to be used in minimally invasive approach.