Magnesium-Substituted Brushite Cement: Physical and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Brushite cements (BrCs) are calcium phosphate-based materials that are being widely used in hard tissue engineering applications due to their osteoconductivity, injectability, and bioresorbability. Therefore, the goal was to evaluate the effects of Mg concentration on the phase composition, setting time, and strength of BrC. Mg, which plays a vital role in bodily functions and bone health, was added to BrC at concentrations of 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, 2.00, and 2.50 wt.%. The results showed that Mg stabilizes the TCP structure and increases the TCP content in final BrC. The initial and final setting times of BrCs increase with higher concentrations of Mg. Although 0.25 wt.% Mg did not change the setting of BrCs significantly, a higher concentration of 1.00 wt.% increased the initial setting time from 4.87 ± 0.38 min to 15.14 ± 0.88 min. Cements with Mg concentrations of 1.5 wt.% and above did not set after 4 h. Mg addition up to 0.5 wt.% did not change the compressive strength; however, higher concentrations decreased it significantly and 2.5 Mg-BrC had the lowest strength of 0.45 ± 0.09 MPs. Together, our results show that Mg can be added up to 1.00 wt.% without any adverse effect on the physical and mechanical properties of BrC.