The application potential of sintered β-dicalcium pyrophosphate in total joint arthroplasty

An in vitro bone cell culture model was used to evaluate the potential application of sintered β-dicalcium pyrophosphate (SDCP) in arthroplasty surgery. Primary osteoclasts and osteoblasts were cocultured with different sizes of SDCP particles. The changes in cell counts and the synthesis and secretion of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and prostaglandin E₂ in response to the SDCP particles were monitored. When bone cells were cultured with SDCP particles smaller than 53 μm, both the osteoblast and osteoclast cell counts decreased significantly. When the SDCP particles were larger than 177 μm, although the osteoblast population increased significantly, the osteoclast population decreased significantly. Simultaneously, the titer of prostaglandin E₂ in the medium and the cytoplasmic prostaglandin E₂ increased significantly. We concluded that SDCP is a potentially useful bioceramic for the prevention of osteoclast-mediated periprosthetic osteolysis. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.