Papers by Author: Alejandro de Carlos

Abstract: There is a need to develop new tough bioactive materials capable to withstand high loads when implanted in the body and with improved fixation, which led to the production of bioactive coatings on metallic substrates. A new approach, which consists of biomorphic silicon carbide (SiC) coated with bioactive glass, was recently presented. This new material joins the high mechanical strength, lightness and porosity of biomorphic SiC, and the bioactive properties of PLD glass films. In this work, a multiple evaluation in terms of biocompatibility of this new material was carried out starting from the biomorphic SiC morphology and porosity, following with the bioactivity of the coatings in simulated body fluid, and ending with a deep biocompatibility study with MG-63 cells. Different ranges of porosity and pore size were offered by the biomorphic SiC depending on the starting wood. The PLD glassy coatings had a high bioactivity in vitro and both the biomorphic SiC coated and uncoated presented high levels of biocompatibility.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to test the in vitro cytotoxicity of wood-based biomorphic Silicon Carbide (SiC) ceramics, using MG-63 human osteoblast-like cells. This innovative material has been recently developed and it exhibits unique mechanical properties towards their application in biomedical technology. In the solvent extraction test the SiC ceramic extracts had almost no effect on cellular activity even at 100% concentration. A similar behaviour was found for Ti6Al4V and bioactive glass, used as reference materials. The results of the cell morphology and the cellular attachment response have also demonstrated that the in vitro performance of these biomorphic SiC ceramics is qualitatively comparable to that produced by titanium alloy and bioactive glass, which seems very promising.