Key Engineering Materials Vols. 309-311

Abstract: Porous hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate composite block has been prepared using a hydrothermal hot pressing (HHP) technique to achieve having a high mechanical strength and controlled biodegradability. The SEM result of the sample shows that the pore sizes are ranged from 100µm to 300µm. The observed X-ray powder diffraction pattern of the sample after sintered 1200oC is composed of hydroxyapatite and tricalciumphosphste.

Abstract: Bioceramics based on calcium phosphate is convinced to be well biocompatible after abundant researches. In this study, a biphasic bioceramic block (10 mm by 5 mm) (BBB) composed of hydroxyapatite and beta-tricalcium phosphate (40/60 in wt%) was prepared using a molten salt approach. At 800oC, the molten sodium chloride well helped the sintering of the precursor powders. A second calcination at 1000oC was then used to evaporate the salt so that a pure biphasic bioceramic block was obtained. This approach can provide porous BBB with 60% porosity, and powder x-ray diffraction patterns ensured the phasic compositions. However, the electrom probe microanalysis showed that around 2 at% of sodium was retained in the BBB. Scanning electron microscope revealed well-dispersed connective micro-pores of 3 micron and random macro-pores of >100 micron in the BBB. Because the salt was evaporated during the preparation of the BBB, the spatial voids were created, and, as a result. The compressive strength of the BBB can only reach a value of 3 MPa. Subcutaneous implantation of the BBB in mice showed that both acute and chronic imflammation were mild. In summary, the molten salt approach is feasible to fabricate biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics having controlled porosity.

Abstract: A new type of porous composite with a porous framework was prepared using a mixture of hydroxyapatite whiskers (W-HA) and poly(L-lactic acid) short fibers (F-PLLA) by a particle-leaching technique. The material, composed of a porous framework with interconnecting pore of >1 µm, has large-sized pores of about 200 µm. The large-sized pores were formed by leaching sucrose granules. The porosity can be controlled in the range from 60 to 85 % by the sucrose content. The small-sized pores in the framework formed due to the poor densification of the W-HAs / F-PLLAs mixture. The pore distribution in the framework can be controlled by the compressing pressure without change in the distribution of large-sized pores.

Abstract: A new way to prepare polymer/hydroxyapatite(HA) composite scaffolds with 3-D interconnected macro and micro pores at room temperature was established, basically based on solvent-casting and particle-leaching together with foaming technique. With this method, Polylactide (PLA) / HA composites of porous architecture with macro pores (50~300)m, average 200)m) and micro pores (~10)m) on the skeleton were obtained. The bending strength and the compressive strength of the composite scaffold were reached to 11.5 MPa and 7MPa respectively with the porosity of approximate to 90%. The study supplied a new short time, low energyexpending method to prepare polymer/ceramic composite with high porosity and interconnected porous structure at room temperature.

Abstract: A numerous techniques have been applied to fabricate three-dimensional scaffolds of high porosity and surface area. And X-ray micro computed tomography can be used studying the architecture of scaffold. In this study, we fabricated three-dimensional macroporous scaffold by polymeric sponge method using calcium phosphate glass. Calcium phosphate glass slurry was prepared by dissolving the glass powder in water polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol and dimethyl formamide. Reticulated polyurethane sponges were used as a template and were coated with the prepared slurry by infiltration technique several times. Sintering at 950oC exhibited dense microstructure as well as entire elimination of organic additives. By repeating the coating and sintering process, it was possible to decrease the pore size and be thick the strut of the structure. The unique feature of the micro computed tomography is that the three dimensions computed reconstruction can be sliced along any direction to gain accurate information on the internal geometric properties and structural parameters of scaffold. Porosity, surface area per unit volume and mean thickness of strut were evaluated through imaging and computer software of scaffold scan data.

Abstract: Hydroxyapatite/collagen (HAp/Col) composite scaffold with unidirectionally elongated pores (scaffold-U) was fabricated by the unidirectional solidification with ice growth and subsequent freeze-dry process. The pore architecture in the composite was evaluated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro computed tomography (micro-CT) with a high resolution. The SEM observation showed that the scaffold-U had unidirectional pores elongated along the vertical direction (i.e. ice growth direction), however the horizontal cross-section showed quite different pore morphology: spindle-shaped pores with random direction. The 3-D micro-CT image of the scaffold-U simultaneously showed the microstructure of the unidirectionally elongated pore and the cross-sectional pore, indicating that the interconnected micropores were successfully fabricated along the ice growth direction. The micro-CT is a powerful tool for the visualization of 3-D pore structure.

Abstract: Generally, characterizations of pore structures of porous biomaterials are mainly based on 2-dimensional (2-D) analysis using cross sectional micrographs. However, interconnectivity of each pore may be more important factor, when tissue ingrowth into deeper pores is considered. In this paper, using micro-CT imaging with 3-D image processing software, analyses of porous material based on 3-demensional (3-D) geometrical considerations were successfully performed. Plasmasprayed porous titanium implant (PT) and four types of sintered porous titanium implants (ST50- 200, ST50-500, ST70-200, and ST70-500) that possess different porosities (50% and 70%) and pore sizes (200-500+m and 500-1500+m) were analyzed in this study. A micro focus X-ray computed tomography system was employed to acquire microstructural information from the porous implants. Using 3-D image processing software, we performed three types of 3-D analysis including detection of the dead space (% dead pore), analysis of interconnectivity by blocking the narrow pore throat with caliber less than 52 +m (% pore with narrow throat) and analysis of material construct by contracting thin strut with thickness less than 52 +m (% construct with thin strut). ST50S and ST50L possessed interconnected porous structure with thicker strut; however, pore throat was considered to be relatively narrow. On the other hand, PT implant possesses favorable interconnectivity despite its’ low porosity; however, relatively thin strut indicate the structural disadvantage for mechanical property. These results suggest that the 3-D analysis of pore and strut structure using micro focus X-ray computed tomography and 3-D image processing software will provide effective information to develop porous implant.

Abstract: Two porous titanium implants with interconnected pore size of 800 and 1200 m in diameter, were fabricated by a rapid prototyping method. Their dimensions and structure accomplished the expected design with accuracy and reproducibility. The porosity of titanium was around 60%. The compressive strength and Young’s modulus were comparable to those of cortical bone with values around 80 MPa and 2.7 GPa, respectively. The implants were implanted bilaterally in the femoral epiphysis of 12 New Zealand Rabbits. After 3 and 8 weeks, abundant bone formation was found in the titanium porous structure. This work demonstrates that macroporous titanium with controlled shape and porosity is a good candidate for orthopaedic and maxilofacial applications.

Abstract: Good interfacial interaction is crucial for preparation of inorganic-organic materials at a nanometer level. Poly(α-methacrylic acid) (PMAA) was grafted on the PLA surfaces via photooxidization and subsequent UV induced polymerization in an attempt to synthesize nano-hydroxyapatite/poly(lactide) (n-HA/PLA) composites. Grafting of PMAA on the PLA surface was confirmed using FTIR analysis and the size distribution measurement of the grafted-PLA (g-PLA) particles. n-HA/g-PLA composites were in situ synthesized via dropwise addition of Ca2+- and g-PLA containing solution to PO4 3-- solution. The prepared composites were characterized by FTIR, XRD，SEM and TEM means. Analytical results indicated that the g-PLA acts as a template to manipulate the nucleation and growth of n-HA crystals and thereby to control the morphology, size and anisotropy of n-HA crystals and their distribution over the organic phase. Chemical linkages and/or interfacial interactions between the n-HA and the g-PLA in the n-HA/g-PLA composite were further discussed.

Abstract: Articular cartilage has an inadequate natural rebuilding capacity. Tissue engineering has shown to have potential to provide an effective alternative to engineer the damaged cartilage. In this study, an integrated porous bi-layered scaffold was developed aiming to mimic the requirements of cartilage and underlying subchondral bone. The osteochondral approach explored in this work was to include a common polymeric component in both cartilage and bone components, which maximised the integration at the interface by mean of a melt-based processing route. A blend of starch and poly(Llactic acid),PLLA, was used in the cartilage side, which was found to possess an adequate water uptake capability. For the bone region, to induce bioactivity, PLLA had been reinforced with hydroxyapatite (HA) and bioactive glass (BG). The surfaces of the constructs were investigated as a function of soaking time in a simulated body (SBF) fluid using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FTIR. The SEM – FTIR indicated a bone-like apatite formation and the surface coverage by apatite layer increased with increasing soaking time, whereas the cartilage-layer did not exhibit the formation of any apatite like layer.