Setting properties and biocompatibility of dicalcium silicate with varying additions of tricalcium aluminate

This study sought to prepare biphasic mixtures by adding tricalcium aluminate (Ca3Al2O6) into dicalcium silicate (Ca2SiO4) and to evaluate the effect of Ca3Al2O6 on setting properties and biocompatibility of the Ca2SiO4/Ca3Al2O6 mixtures as compared to pure Ca2SiO4. The results indicated that the addition of Ca3Al2O6 into Ca2SiO4 reduced the setting time and improved the compressive strength. Furthermore, Ca2SiO4/Ca3Al2O6 mixtures were bioactive and biocompatible, and had a stimulatory effect on the L929 cell growth when the content of Ca3Al2O6 was below 10%. Therefore, the mixtures with 10% Ca3Al2O6 produced the best compromise between setting and in vitro biological properties.