BIOCERAMIC IMPLANTS HAVING BIOACTIVE SUBSTANCE

摘要

A bioceramic endoprosthesis includes a reservoir or deposition of a bioactive substance, such as an angiogenic growth factor, that can provide a biological function, such as vascularization of the endoprosthesis. Such a bioceramic can be prepared by a low temperature direct rapid prototyping inkjet printing system and process. Such a direct inkjet printing process includes the following: applying a ceramic powder to a substrate; inkjet printing a binder solution onto the ceramic powder so as to form a bound ceramic; inkjet printing a bioactive substance solution onto the bound ceramic, wherein the bioactive substance is printed on the bound ceramic at the low temperature (e.g., room temperature or within +/−10° C. of 25° C.); and repeating the process in order to form the bioceramic endoprosthesis.