Porous calcium phosphate composite bioceramic beads

In this study, porous calcium phosphate composite bioceramic beads were prepared by sintering the organic/inorganic hybrid pellets, which were readily obtained by extrusion-spheronization of wet mass containing beta-tricalcium phosphate, phosphate-based glass (PG), excipients and binders. The results indicated that the hybrid pellets were in good spherical shape and narrow size distribution. The formation of PG liquid made possible the liquid-state sintering of bioceramic beads. As the sintering temperature increased, the obtained bioceramic beads had denser microstructure, higher compressive modulus and strength, but larger pores (10-100 mu m) unexpectedly. The porous bioceramic beads can serve as promising biomaterials used for bone defect repair.