BACKGROUND:Microbeads for bone repair have been widely studied because they can be conveniently used in clinical applications. OBJECTIVE:This study concerns the preparation, physical properties and in vitro characterisation of different types of alginate/calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramic microbeads,which were designed for use as drug delivery systems and bone-regeneration matrices. METHODS:Hybrid microbeads were successfully prepared from sodium alginate and various CaP, namely 𝛼-tricalcium phosphate, 𝛽-tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite using the liquid droplet method. RESULTS:Porosity, swelling properties and in vitro degradation of the microbeads in the aqueous environment were significantly changed by the added CaP. The compressive strength of the blocks fabricated from the beads was around 120 MPa irrespective of the type of CaP. The initial release rate of the model drug methylene blue was suppressed by the addition of CaP. CONCLUSION:The alginate-CaP composite beads hold promising potential as an encapsulation carrier of drugs and component of bone substitutes.

中文翻译：

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藻酸盐/磷酸钙杂化珠的制备和性能：比较研究

背景：用于骨修复的微珠因其可方便地用于临床应用而被广泛研究。目的：本研究涉及不同类型海藻酸盐/磷酸钙 (CaP) 陶瓷微珠的制备、物理性质和体外表征，这些微珠设计用作药物递送系统和骨再生基质。方法：采用液滴法将海藻酸钠和各种CaP，即𝛼-磷酸三钙、𝛽-磷酸三钙和羟基磷灰石成功制备杂化微珠。结果：添加的CaP显着改变了微珠在水性环境中的孔隙率、溶胀性能和体外降解。无论 CaP 的类型如何，由珠子制成的块的抗压强度约为 120 MPa。CaP的加入抑制了模型药物亚甲蓝的初始释放速率。结论：藻酸盐-CaP复合珠作为药物的包封载体和骨替代物的成分具有广阔的前景。