Himed - Model B-TCP -Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate for Bone Repair
Beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) is a calcium phosphate biomaterial noted for its bioactive and resorbable properties, which make it highly effective in applications such as bone grafting and implants. It supports bone regeneration due to its osteoconductive nature, acting as a scaffold for natural bone to replace over time. By adjusting the porosity and particle size of β-TCP, its resorption rate can be controlled to fit specific medical applications, including orthopedic and dental fields. β-TCP can integrate with other biomaterials, such as hydroxyapatite and polymers like PLGA, enhancing its mechanical and resorption dynamics. Its chemical composition mirrors that of natural bone, promoting biocompatibility and integration with bone tissue without triggering immune responses. β-TCP's unique qualities, such as osteoinductive properties, allow for the differentiation of progenitor cells to support bone growth, even where bone tissue is absent, making it an excellent choice for applications in spinal fusion, dental implants, and trauma implants.
Bioactive β-TCP Powders & Granules for Hard Tissue Applications
Beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) is a bioactive, resorbable calcium phosphate compound widely used in bone grafting and implant applications. Due to its osteoconductive properties, β-TCP supports bone regeneration by acting as a scaffold material that gradually resorbs, thereby allowing natural bone to replace it over time. This resorption rate can be fine-tuned by changing physical characteristics such as porosity and particle size.
Additionally, β-TCP integrates well with other biomaterials, including other calcium phosphates such as hydroxyapatite, or polymers like poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)—broadening its mechanical and resorption properties for diverse orthopedic, dental, and craniofacial applications.
Material Properties of β-TCP and Their Impact on Bone Repair
Beta-tricalcium phosphate owes its biocompatibility to a chemical composition that closely resembles natural bone mineral. This similarity allows β-TCP to integrate readily with surrounding bone tissue, promoting cell proliferation and hard tissue adhesion without provoking adverse immune responses.
β-TCP is also highly osteoconductive—and can be fabricated into a porous scaffold that facilitates the attachment and growth of bone cells, or osteoblasts. A porous structure allows cells to infiltrate, adhere, and expand within the material, guiding new bone formation along its surface. This osteoconductive quality makes β-TCP invaluable in applications like bone grafting, spinal fusion, and dental implants, where integration with existing bone is critical.
Beyond supporting surface bone cell growth, β-TCP offers osteoinductive properties that enable it to encourage the differentiation of progenitor cells into bone-forming cells. Consequently, β-TCP can stimulate bone growth even in areas where native bone tissue is currently deficient.
Perhaps more than any other factor, it is resorbability that sets β-TCP apart from permanent implant materials like titanium, metal-alloys, and polymers such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK). As it gradually degrades, β-TCP is replaced by natural bone tissue, supporting the healing process without the need for additional surgeries to remove the implant material.
Together, these properties—biocompatibility, osteoconduction, osteoinduction, and resorbability—make β-TCP an exceptional material for bone repair. It not only provides the scaffolding support needed for healing but also actively promotes regenerative outcomes.
While β-TCP is inherently osteoconductive and osteoinductive, its effectiveness in promoting bone growth can be further enhanced through specific customizations. These modifications allow β-TCP to meet precise clinical needs, optimizing its performance across different applications:
Porosity
The porosity of β-TCP can be carefully tailored during manufacture to support greater cell infiltration, neovascularization, protein adsorption, and nutrient exchange—factors essential for sustained bone development. By modifying pore size, interconnectivity, and distribution, β-TCP can be optimized to create an ideal scaffold for osteoblast activity.
Particle Size
Particle size not only impacts resorbability rates, it also plays a significant role in supporting the functional application of the final product. For example, larger granules are more appropriate for bone fillers, whereas fine powders are generally better suited for mixing into injectable pastes.
Himed produces various forms of β-TCP with particle size ranges from <5 μm to 1000 μm — a complete listing of particle sizes is available via our catalog.
Surface Texture Modifications
Altering the surface texture of β-TCP improves cellular attachment and proliferation. Surface modifications can increase the overall area available for cell adhesion as well as improve cellular attachment, which enhances bioactivity and accelerates osseointegration.