Melt-derived bioactive glass scaffolds produced by a gel-cast foaming technique

作者：Wu Zoe Y; Hill Robert G; Yue Sheng; Nightingale Donovan; Lee Peter D; Jones Julian R^*

来源：Acta Biomaterialia, 2011, 7(4): 1807-1816.

DOI：10.1016/j.actbio.2010.11.041

• Bioactive glass
• Porous scaffolds
• Gel-casting
• Bone tissue regeneration
• Artificial bone graft

Porous melt-derived bioactive glass scaffolds with interconnected pore networks suitable for bone regeneration were produced without the glass crystallizing. ICIE 16(49.46% SiO2, 36.27% CaO, 6.6% Na2O, 1.07% P2O5 and 6.6% K2O, in mol.%) was used as it is a composition designed not to crystallize during sintering. Glass powder was made into porous scaffolds by using the gel-cast foaming technique. All variables in the process were investigated systematically to devise an optimal process. Interconnect size was quantified using mercury porosimetry and X-ray microtomography (mu CT). The reagents, their relative quantities and thermal processing protocols were all critical to obtain a successful scaffold. Particularly important were particle size (a modal size of 8 mu m was optimal); water and catalyst content; initiator vitality and content; as well as the thermal processing protocol. Once an optimal process was chosen, the scaffolds were tested in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. Amorphous calcium phosphate formed in 8 h and crystallized hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA) formed in 3 days. The compressive strength was approximately 2 MPa for a mean interconnect size of 140 mu m between the pores with a mean diameter of 379 mu m, which is thought to be a suitable porous network for vascularized bone regeneration. This material has the potential to bond to bone more rapidly and stimulate more bone growth than current porous artificial bone grafts.

• 出版日期2011-4