Abstract: The extract of drynaria,a traditional Chinese medical herb, was added into dicalcium phosphate dihydrate(DCPD) with concentration of 5wt%, 10wt% and 15wt% to form drug-loaded calciumphosphate cement (CPC). The effects of drynaria on the physichemical propertiesand drug release behavior of CPC were characterized by Gilmore needle tests,X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), compressivetests, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and UV-Vis spectrophotometry (UV-Vis).The effects of drynaria-loaded CPC on the morphology, proliferation, and differentiation of MC-3T3osteoblast were evaluated by SEM, Alamar blue assay, and alkaline phosphataseassay, respectively. It was found thatthe addition of drynaria increased the setting time and compressive strength ofCPC in dose-dependent manners. The addition of drynaria also accelerated theinitial hydration of CPC, but inhibited the subsequent conversion ofα-tricalcium phosphate, which were closely related to the concentration of drynaria.In comparison, the phases of CPC hydration products were not affected by drynaria.Drynaria-loaded CPC consisting of platyand acicular crystals were more compact than the control CPC. The drug releaseprofile exhibited an initial fast release stage followed by a slow releasestage, which was fit to the diffusion-controlledHiguchi model. The effect of drynaria-loaded CPC on osteoblastswas time- and dose-dependent. CPC loaded with 5wt% and 10wt% drynaria significantlypromoted osteoblast proliferation after culture for 5d (P<0.01). After cultured withdrynaria-loaded CPC for 7d, osteoblasts proliferated steadily. Osteoblasts cultured on drynaria-loaded CPCs and controlCPC showed similar differentiation. Osteoblasts with a normal morphology wereobserved on the surface of drynaria-loaded CPC, indicating an excellentbiocompatibility.

Key words: calcium phosphate cement, drynaria, physichemicalproperties, biocompatibility