Eutectoid dicalcium silicate-Nurse's A ceramic scaffold: Processing and in vitro bioactivity

摘要

The aim of this research was the processing, characterisation and in vitro bioactivity of a novel ceramic 3D porous scaffold to be used in the bone tissue engineering field. A calcium silicophosphate scaffold, with nominal composition 31 wt% tricalcium phosphate (TCP-3CaO center dot P2O5 )-69 wt% dicalcium silicate (C2S-2CaO-SiO2), was produced by the polymer sponge replica method. The scaffold was analysed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) and Hg porosimetry techniques. The results indicated that the biphasic porous Si-Ca-P scaffolds presented a lamellar microstructure of (alternating alpha'-C2S and alpha - TCP phases and an interconnected porous network (95 +/- 3%), with a hierarchical distribution in pore size terms (55.12 nm-600 mu m). The scaffold displayed good and fast bioactivity, which was confirmed by the presence of CHA on its surface after being immersed 6 h in simulated body fluid (SBF) according to Kokubo guidelines. These results confirm that the scaffold is suitable for bone tissue engineering.