From mechanical repair to biological regeneration: a review on β-TCP for bone repair

The innovative synthesis and performance enhancement of bone tissue repair materials are pivotal in advancing orthopedic surgery. β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), renowned for its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mechanical properties matching those of bone tissue, has emerged as a crucial material in the field of bone repair implants. Although existing review has primarily focused on the comparative biological performance and application prospects of β-TCP, the systematic integration of its synthesis and preparation methods, its curing and osteogenic mechanisms, and its performance optimization strategies have not been explored comprehensively. This study aims to systematically review the characteristics and structural foundations of β-TCP, summarize its established and emerging synthesis pathways, explore its curing behavior, analyze its physicochemical properties and their regulatory mechanisms, biological properties and osteogenic mechanisms. Building on the observations, the paper outlines the current applications of β-TCP in bone repair and related challenges, proposes novel approaches for material design and fabrication, and maps out its future development directions, offering insights into the advancement of high-performance β-TCP bone repair materials.