Abstract
Iron is one of the trace elements required by human body, and its deficiency can lead to abnormal bone metabolism. In this study, the effect of iron ions on the properties of tricalcium silicate bone cement (Fe/C(3)Ss) was investigated. It effectively solved the problems of high pH value and low biological activity of calcium silicate bone cement. The mechanical properties, in vitro mineralization ability and biocompatibility of the materials were systematically characterized. The results indicate that tricalcium silicate bone cement containing 5 mol% iron displayed good self-setting ability, mechanical properties and biodegradation performance in vitro. Compared with pure calcium silicate bone cement (C(3)Ss), Fe/C(3)Ss showed lower pH value (8.80) and higher porosity (45%), which was suitable for subsequent cell growth. Immersion test in vitro also confirmed its good ability to induce hydroxyapatite formation. Furthermore, cell culture experiments performed with Fe/C(3)Ss ion extracts clearly stated that the material had excellent cell proliferation abilities compared to C(3)Ss and low toxicity. The findings reveal that iron-doped tricalcium silicate bone cement is a promising bioactive material in bone repair applications.