Journal of Advanced Materials and Technologies

Journal of Advanced Materials and Technologies

Development and Evaluation of Zn²⁺ Co-Substituted β-Tricalcium Phosphate Bioceramics

Document Type : Original Reaearch Article

Authors
1 MSc Student, School of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, School of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
3 Professor, School of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
4 Assistant Professor, School of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
β-Tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) is a widely studied calcium phosphate phase due to its well-defined crystal structure and its ability to accommodate ionic substitution within the lattice. In this work, β-TCP powders were synthesized via a controlled precipitation route, followed by partial substitution of Ca²⁺ with Zn²⁺ to examine the influence of Zn incorporation on phase formation and structural evolution. The formation of the β-TCP phase and the absence of detectable secondary phases were verified using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermal analysis. The results show that Zn²⁺ substitution induces measurable changes in the diffraction features consistent with lattice modification and is accompanied by increased crystallinity and improved microstructural uniformity. Overall, the findings demonstrate that controlled Zn²⁺ incorporation provides an effective approach for tuning the structural and physicochemical characteristics of β-TCP powders.
Keywords
Subjects

1       Baino, F., & Yamaguchi, S. (2020). The Use of Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) for Assessing Materials Bioactivity in the Context of Tissue Engineering: Review and Challenges. Biomimetics, 5(4), 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics5040057
2       Bohner, M., Santoni, B. L. G., & Döbelin, N. (2020). β-tricalcium phosphate for bone substitution: Synthesis and properties. Acta Biomaterialia, 113, 23–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2020.06.022
3      
Copete, H., López, E., & Baudin, C. (2024). Synthesis and characterization of B-type carbonated hydroxyapatite materials: Effect of carbonate content on mechanical strength and in vitro degradation. Boletín de La Sociedad Española de Cerámica y Vidrio, 63(4), 255–267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bsecv.2023.12.001
4       Dong, W., Matsukawa, Y., Long, Y., Hayashi, Y., Nakamura, J., Suzuki, K., & Ohtsuki, C. (2024). Revised method for preparation of simulated body fluid for assessment of the apatite-forming ability of bioactive materials: proposal of mixing two stock solutions. RSC Advances, 14(52), 38660–38667. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4RA07739C
5       Dridi, A., Riahi, K. Z., & Somrani, S. (2021). Mechanism of apatite formation on a poorly crystallized calcium phosphate in a simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37 °C. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 156, 110122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2021.110122
6       Evdokimov, P. V., Tikhonova, S. A., & Putlyaev, V. I. (2023). Mechanical Properties of Graded Macroporous Calcium Phosphate Ceramics of Tailored Architecture. Inorganic Materials, 59(9), 1012–1018. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0020168523090054
7       Güben, E., Arıcı, Ş., Bayır, D., Bozdağ, E., & Ege, D. (2020). Preparation of calcium phosphate/carboxymethylcellulose-based bone cements. Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, 9(3), 155–163. https://doi.org/10.1680/jbibn.19.00053
8       Hammerli, J., Hermann, J., Tollan, P., & Naab, F. (2021). Measuring in situ CO2 and H2O in apatite via ATR-FTIR. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 176(12), 105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-021-01858-6
9       Kamitakahara, M., Asahara, K., & Matsubara, H. (2022). Calcium phosphate cements comprising spherical porous calcium phosphate granules: synthesis, structure, and properties. Journal of Asian Ceramic Societies, 10(4), 731–738. https://doi.org/10.1080/21870764.2022.2123514
10     Liu, D., Šavija, B., Smith, G. E., Flewitt, P. E. J., Lowe, T., & Schlangen, E. (2017). Towards understanding the influence of porosity on mechanical and fracture behaviour of quasi-brittle materials: experiments and modelling. International Journal of Fracture, 205(1), 57–72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-017-0181-7
11     Lotsari, A., Rajasekharan, A. K., Halvarsson, M., & Andersson, M. (2018). Transformation of amorphous calcium phosphate to bone-like apatite. Nature Communications, 9(1), 4170. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06570-x
12     Maslova, L. Yu., Krut’ko, V. K., Musskaya, O. N., Safronova, T. V., & Kulak, A. I. (2023). Formation of Biomimetic Apatite on Calcium Phosphate Foam Ceramic in a Concentrated Model Solution. Inorganic Materials: Applied Research, 14(2), 392–396. https://doi.org/10.1134/S2075113323020314
13     Nikpar, S., Khavandi, A., Javadpour, J., & Rezaie, H. R. (2025a). Investigation of the Effects of Hydroxyapatite Particles and Carbon Nanotubes on the Mechanical and Biological Properties of Chitosan/Gelatin Composites. Journal of Advanced Materials and Technologies. https://doi.org/10.30501/jamt.2025.500143.1317
14     Nikpar, S., Rezaie, H. R., Khavandi, A., & Javadpour, J. (2025b). Enhancement of Mechanical and Biological Properties of Chitosan/Gelatin Composite Hydrogels With Hydroxyapatite and Functionalized Carbon Nanotube Reinforcements. Polymer Engineering & Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/pen.27285
15     Nikpar, S., Rezaie, H. R., Khavandi, A., & Javadpour, J. (2026). Synergistic Tri-Modal Reinforcement of Chitosan–Gelatin Hydrogels with Hydroxyapatite, Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes, and Zinc Oxide for Superior Mechanical and Biological Performance. Results in Materials, 100907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinma.2026.100907
16     O’Neill, R., McCarthy, H. O., Montufar, E. B., Ginebra, M.-P., Wilson, D. I., Lennon, A., & Dunne, N. (2017). Critical review: Injectability of calcium phosphate pastes and cements. Acta Biomaterialia, 50, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2016.11.019
17     Pejchalová, L., Roleček, J., & Salamon, D. (2021). Why freeze-casting brings different phase composition of calcium phosphates? Open Ceramics, 7, 100161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceram.2021.100161
18     Pelletier, M. H., Lau, A. C. B., Smitham, P. J., Nielsen, G., & Walsh, W. R. (2010). Pore distribution and material properties of bone cement cured at different temperatures. Acta Biomaterialia, 6(3), 886–891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2009.09.016
19     Sainz, M. A., Serena, S., & Caballero, A. (2023). Synthesis and properties of Zn and Zn–Mg-doped tricalcium phosphates obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering. Ceramics International, 49(12), 19569–19577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2023.03.104
20     Schröter, L., Kaiser, F., Stein, S., Gbureck, U., & Ignatius, A. (2020). Biological and mechanical performance and degradation characteristics of calcium phosphate cements in large animals and humans. Acta Biomaterialia, 117, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2020.09.031
21     Sinusaite, L., Popov, A., Antuzevics, A., Mazeika, K., Baltrunas, D., Yang, J.-C., Horng, J. L., Shi, S., Sekino, T., Ishikawa, K., Kareiva, A., & Zarkov, A. (2020). Fe and Zn co-substituted beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP): Synthesis, structural, magnetic, mechanical and biological properties. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 112, 110918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2020.110918
22     Uskoković, V. (2020). Visualizing different crystalline states during the infrared imaging of calcium phosphates. Vibrational Spectroscopy, 108, 103045. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vibspec.2020.103045
23     Uskoković, V., & Rau, J. V. (2017). Nonlinear oscillatory dynamics of the hardening of calcium phosphate bone cements. RSC Advances, 7(64), 40517–40532. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7RA07395J
24     Vallejos Baier, R., Benjumeda Wijnhoven, I., Irribarra del Valle, V., Millán Giovanetti, C., & Vivanco, J. F. (2019). Microporosity Clustering Assessment in Calcium Phosphate Bioceramic Particles. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00281
25     Wang, D., Ji, X., Wang, J., Chen, Z., Li, H., & Chen, C. (2025). Microstructure and properties of calcium phosphate cement modified with high crystalline tetracalcium phosphate. MRS Communications, 15(6), 1527–1533. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43579-025-00849-z
Zhang, L., Li, Z., Lu, T., He, F., & Ye, J. (2024). Preparation and properties of porous calcium phosphate ceramic microspheres modified with magnesium phosphate surface coating for bone defect repair. Ceramics International, 50(5), 7514–7527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2023.12.055
Volume 15, Issue 1
Spring 2026
Pages 27-37

  • Receive Date 23 February 2026
  • Revise Date 17 May 2026
  • Accept Date 14 June 2026