Novel vaterite-containing tricalcium silicate bone cement by surface functionalization using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane: setting behavior, in vitro bioactivity and cytocompatibility.

A novel vaterite-containing tricalcium silicate (V-CS) was grafted by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), and the amino groups have been successfully fixed on the vaterite-containing tricalcium silicate powder's surface (after grafting the amino group, V-CS was named A-V-CS). The setting behavior, mechanical properties, porosity, weight loss and anti-washout properties of the tricalcium silicate (CS), V-CS and A-V-CS bone cement were systematically investigated. The in vitro induction of hydroxyapatite (HAp) formation of CS, V-CS and A-V-CS bone cement was confirmed by x-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The cell viability, cell proliferation and cell attachment were investigated to assess the effects of bone cement on MC3T3-E1 cells. Results showed that the setting time of A-V-CS bone cement can meet the requirements of a clinical test, with improved anti-washout properties and an appropriate degradation rate. The pH value of the soaking solution was obviously decreased by surface modification. Besides, the morphology and fluorescence photograph results revealed that the A-V-CS bone cement showed an enhanced biocompatibility effect on the proliferation and attachment of MC3T3-E1 cells. The A-V-CS bone cement was expected to be a potential bone-substitute material.