Fabrication and Evaluation of Xeno, Synthetic, and Acellular BCP Powders for Bone Tissue Engineering: A Comprehensive Study on Osteogenic Potential

The development of bioactive calcium phosphate (BCP) powders for bone tissue engineering has attracted significant attention. This study investigates the fabrication and characterization of three BCP powder compositions: Xeno BCP (extracted from cow femoral bone), synthetic BCP (synthesized from CaHPO₄ and CaCO₃), and acellular BCP (derived through decellularization of human femoral bone). BCP composed mainly of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HAp), is known for its bioactivity and osteoconductive properties. The powders were fabricated using methods aimed at optimizing their structural and biological properties for biomedical use. Characterization was conducted using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) to analyze functional groups, phase identification, crystallinity, and elemental composition. In vitro assays, including the MTS assay for cell toxicity and biocompatibility, were performed, alongside biodegradation and Alizarin Red S staining to assess mineralization and osteogenic potential. The results revealed that acellular BCP, produced via a non-thermal process, exhibited the highest bioactivity, cell proliferation, and mineralization. Xeno BCP showed superior performance compared to synthetic BCP. These differences are attributed to the non-thermal processing used for acellular BCP, which provided the best results in all assays. In conclusion, acellular BCP demonstrated the highest potential for bone regeneration, followed by Xeno and synthetic BCP, highlighting its promising application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.