Microspheres obtained by spray-drying for calcium phosphate cements applications

• Grant number: 16/05177-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal researcher: Mariana Motisuke
• Grantee: Lívia Sayuri Fujita
• Home Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICT). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São José dos Campos. São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Recently, the search for materials which could be implanted by minimally invasive surgeries, stimulate new tissue growth and are resorbable have shown a significant increase. In this context, the development of injectable materials that can be applied in vivo, such as calcium phosphate cements (CPC), become an important path in the studies for repairing diseased or damaged calcified tissues. CPCs are biocompatible, resorbable, osteoconductive and may be injected; however, the injectability process is not a simple task once these materials may set over time leading to needle clogging or the difficulty in maintaining the paste homogeneity during injection, which would result in a partial extrusion of the paste. An approach to optimize the injectability of these materials would be through the use of spherical particles that are easily obtained by spray drying technique. Therefore, this project aims to develop ±-TCP microspheres by spray drying, followed by a calcination process in order to evaluate the influence of the granules shape in the cement properties, taking into account the injectability of this material through a technique that offers a better cost-effective implant to the patient. (AU)