Gelatin manipulation of latent macropores formation in brushite cement

Macroporous brushite cement was prepared from a mixture of -tricalcium phosphate (-TCP) and monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM) using gelatin powder as a latent templates. In a setting reaction coexisting with gelatin, closed packed, open-pore structure with 100–200 m macropores are obtained after immersion of the set cement into PBS buffer (pH 7.4) at 37 °C for 1–4 weeks. The macroporous brushite cement has compressive strength of 15 MPa originally, which reducing to 5.5 MPa with macropore formation gradually in comparison to that of cancellous bone (5–10 MPa).