Enhancing the mechanical properties and cytocompatibility of magnesium potassium phosphate cement by incorporating oxygen-carboxymethyl chitosan

Incorporating bioactive substances into synthetic bioceramic scaffolds is challenging.In this work,oxygen-carboxymethyl chitosan(0-CMC),a natural biopolymer that is nontoxic,biodegradable and biocompatible,was introduced into magnesium potassium phosphate cement(K-struvite)to enhance its mechanical properties and cytocompatibility.This study aimed to develop 0-CMC/magnesium potassium phosphate composite bone cement(OMPC),thereby combining the opti-mum bioactivity of O-CMC with the extraordinary self setting properties and mechanical intensity of the K-struvite.Our results indicated that O-CMC incorporation increased the compressive strength and setting time of K-struvite and decreased its porosity and pH value.Furthermore,OMPC scaffolds remarkably improved the proliferation,adhesion and osteogenesis related differ-entiation of MC3T3-E1 cells.Therefore,O-CMC introduced suitable physicochemical properties to K-struvite and enhanced its cytocompatibility for use in bone regeneration.