Silicocarnotite: Novel Silicate Bioceramic With Osteogenic Property for Repairing Rat Cranial Critical-Sized Bone Defects

Abstract

Critical-sized bone defects are an intractable orthopedic disease which often fails to regenerate spontaneously and requires additional intervention. Current therapies, including autografts and allografts, are not always satisfactory. Herein, the novel calcium phosphate bioceramic-containing silicon (CPS) with a carnotite structure was synthesized. In the present study, CPS was prepared for investigating the biocompatibility and bioactivity in vitro and in vivo in comparison to hydroxyapatite (HA). Our results showed that CPS bioceramics had favorable biocompatibility and rBMSCs could adhere on the surface well in vitro. Moreover, CPS could promote osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs and the expression of osteogenic differentiation marker genes, including ALP, Runx-2, BSP, OCN, and OPN. In vivo, the results of micro-CT, histomorphometry, and histology analyses showed that CPS significantly enhanced critical-sized calvarial defects healing compared with HA. Overall, the present study demonstrated that CPS bioceramics had satisfactory bioactivities and osteogenic capacities, which could be a potential option for reconstructing critical-sized bone defects.