Highly Bioactive Porous Composite Scaffolds of Bovine Hydroxyapatite (BHA-Ti, BHA-TiO{sub}2, BHA-Li{sub}2O)

摘要

Porous scaffolds of hydroxyapatite (HA), derived from calcined bovine bones and doped with various reinforcing materials, such as Ti, TiO{sub}2 and Li{sub}2O, were produced with the aid of commercial sugar, which was added as 20wt% with respect to the total batch, and sintering at 1200°Cand 1300°C. The samples were characterized by SEM and X-ray diffraction analysis as well as by porosity measurements. The experimental results showed that porosity can be controlled by the correct selection of doping materials. The optimum sintering temperature was 1200°Csince firing at 1300°C caused extended sintering and thus porosity was considerably reduced. Matching of chemical nature as well as thermal expansion coefficients between HA and the doping components are of high importance for the structural integrity of the resultant scaffolds. Doping with Li{sub}2CO{sub}3 seemed to have the highest potential for achieving high porosity, likely due to the decomposition to Li{sub}2O, but the amount of Li{sub}2CO{sub}3 used should not jeopardizing HA bioactivity. The use of natural sugar is an economic way of producing safe for the health porous HA scaffolds.