Incorporation of salmon calcitonin-loaded poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres into calcium phosphate bone cement and the biocompatibility evaluation in vitro.

Slow tissue ingrowth is the major drawback for the use of calcium phosphate cements; to address the issue, salmon calcitonin–loaded biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres were incorporated into calcium phosphate cement in this study. The effects of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) weight ratio on the mechanical strength, self-setting properties, and salmon calcitonin release ability of calcium phosphate cement were systematically investigated. The in vitro degradation behavior and the cumulative mass loss (%) of the composite during incubation in phosphate-buffered saline were studied. The release of salmon calcitonin was sustained for at least 35 days, and the release rate can be tailored by adjusting the ratio of PLGA. The scanning electron microscopic images of the composites after incubation for 48 days indicated that the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) degraded completely and formed a porous structure in the calcium phosphate cement. An in vitro cell culture of the calcium phosphate cement/salmon calcitonin–poly(lactide-co-glycolide) cement provided more biocompatible than calcium phosphate cement. This composite possesses the basic performance for clinical needs, and it has potential use for treating osteoporosis and accelerating bone repair. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]