Porcine Gelatin Microsphere/Calcium Phosphate Cement Composites: An In Vitro Degradation Study

Scaffolds for bone tissue engineering preferably should be mechanically stable, osteoconductive, biodegradable and porous. To comply with these characteristics, calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) with porcine (type A) gelatin microspheres were formulated. In this experiment, in vitro degradation of 10 wt % gelatin type A microsphere CPCs (GELA CPCs) was followed for 12 weeks in proteolytic medium. Results showed a gradual decrease in mass, compression strength and E-modulus. Morphology investigation showed that degradation of the spheres started at the surface of the composite and gradually proceeded to the inner part. Overall, porcine gelatin microspberes can be used to generate in situ macroporosity into an injectable CPC. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part 13: Appl Biomater 91B: 555-561, 2009