Premixed macroporous calcium phosphate cement scaffold

Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) sets in situ to form resorbable hydroxyapatite and is promising for orthopaedic applications. However, it requires on-site powder-liquid mixing during surgery, which prolongs surgical time and raises concerns of inhomogeneous mixing. The objective of this study was to develop a premixed CPC scaffold with macropores suitable for tissue ingrowth. To avoid the on-site powder-liquid mixing, the CPC paste was mixed in advance and did not set in storage; it set only after placement in a physiological solution. Using 30% and 40% mass fractions of mannitol porogen, the premixed CPC scaffold with fibers had flexural strength (mean ± sd; n = 5) of (3.9 ± 1.4) MPa and (1.8 ± 0.8) MPa, respectively. The scaffold porosity reached (68.6 ± 0.7)% and (74.7 ± 1.2)%, respectively. Osteoblast cells colonized in the surface macropores of the scaffold and attached to the hydroxyapatite crystals. Cell viability values for the premixed CPC scaffold was not significantly different from that of a conventional non-premixed CPC known to be biocompatible (P > 0.1). In conclusion, using fast-dissolving porogen and slow-dissolving fibers, a premixed macroporous CPC scaffold was developed with strength approaching the reported strengths of sintered porous hydroxyapatite implants and cancellous bone, and non-cytotoxicity similar to a biocompatible non-premixed CPC. Official contribution of the National Institute of Standards and Technology; not subject to copyright in the United States.     

Development of macroporous calcium phosphate scaffold processed via microwave rapid drying

Porous hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffold has great potential in bone tissue engineering applications. A new method to fabricate macroporous calcium phosphate (CP) scaffold via microwave irradiation, followed by conventional sintering to form HA scaffold was developed. Incorporation of trisodium citrate dihydrate and citric acid in the CP mixture gave macroporous scaffolds upon microwave rapid drying. In this work, a mixture of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), trisodium citrate dihydrate, citric acid and double distilled de-ionised water (DDI) was exposed to microwave radiation to form a macroporous structure. Based on gross eye examinations, addition of trisodium citrate at 30 and 40 wt.% in the CP mixture (β-TCP and CaCO₃) without citric acid indicates increasing order of pore volume where the highest porosity yield was observed at 40 wt.% of trisodium citrate addition and the pore size was detected at several millimeters. Therefore, optimization of pore size was performed by adding 3–7 wt.% of citric acid in the CP mixture which was separately mixed with 30 and 40 wt.% of trisodium citrate for comparison purposes. Fabricated scaffolds were calcined at 600 °C and washed with DDI water to remove the sodium hydroxycarbonate and sintered at 1250 °C to form HA phase as confirmed in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results. Based on Archimedes method, HA scaffolds prepared from 40 wt.% of trisodium citrate with 3–7 wt.% of citric acid added CP mixture have an open and interconnected porous structure ranging from 51 to 53 vol.% and observation using Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed the pore size distribution between 100 and 500 μm. The cytotoxicity tests revealed that the porous HA scaffolds have no cytotoxic potential on MG63 osteoblast-like cells which might allow for their use as biomaterials.     

多孔磷酸钙骨水泥组织工程支架的高分子灌注增强

利用棒状谷氨酸钠晶体作为造孔粒子,采用可溶盐造孔法,制备了三维连通的大孔径多孔磷酸钙骨水泥支架,分别将明胶(Gelatin) 、聚乳酸2羟基乙酸共聚物(PLGA) 、聚乳酸(PLA) 、聚己内酯(PCL) 、聚羟基丁酸戊酸酯(PHBV)灌注到多孔磷酸钙骨水泥(CPC)支架的孔隙中以改善支架材料的力学性能。结果表明,5 种高分子材料与水的接触角大小顺序为PHBV > PCL > PLA > PL GA > Gelatin , 复合支架材料的强度随高分子材料与水接触角的减小而增大;除PHBV外,其余4种均有明显的增强效果,其中Gelatin/CPC复合支架增强效果最好,强度达到2. 25 MPa±0. 02 MPa ,是CPC支架强度的25倍。经过增强的大孔径多孔磷酸钙骨水泥复合支架可用作骨组织工程支架材料。      

聚乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物/磷酸钙骨水泥多孔复合支架的制备

利用定向冰晶-冷冻干燥法制备了具有定向孔隙结构的磷酸钙骨水泥支架材料, 将两种具有不同降解速率的聚乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物(PLGA) 与磷酸钙骨水泥多孔支架进行多次浸润复合, 以改善支架的力学性能。结果表明: PLGA 与支架材料复合可大大提高复合支架材料的抗压强度, 经过PLGA 二次复合后, 复合支架抗压强度可达6. 37 MPa ±0. 54 MPa 。经过PLGA 复合的支架材料保持了复合前的孔隙结构, 在孔的轴向方向上具有定向排列的开口孔隙, 这些开口孔隙的存在有利于植入初期新生组织的长入。覆盖在骨水泥基体表面的PLGA 膜可以增强基体的强度并弥补基体表面的缺陷, 充填在孔隙内部的PLGA 泡沫体可以很好地承受外加载荷, 使复合支架材料具有较好的强度和韧性。      

Porous calcium phosphate ceramics prepared by coating polyurethane foams with calcium phosphate cements

Porous calcium phosphates have important biomedical applications such as bone defect fillers, tissue engineering scaffolds and drug delivery systems. While a number of methods to produce the porous calcium phosphate ceramics have been reported, this study aimed to develop a new fabrication method. The new method involved the use of polyurethane foams to produce highly porous calcium phosphate cements (CPCs). By firing the porous CPCs at 1200 °C, the polyurethane foams were burnt off and the CPCs prepared at room temperature were converted into sintered porous hydroxyapatite (HA)-based calcium phosphate ceramics. The sintered porous calcium phosphate ceramics could then be coated with a layer of the CPC at room temperature, resulting in high porosity, high pore interconnectivity and controlled pore size.     

Creation of macroporous calcium phosphate cements as bone substitutes by using genipin-crosslinked gelatin microspheres

Macroporous calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) were developed using genipin-crosslinked gelatin microspheres (GMs) with two weight ratios (2.5 wt% and 5 wt%). The initial setting time of the composite was prolonged by GMs. After GMs/CPCs were soaked in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for several weeks, macropores appeared as a result of the degradation of GMs. The presence of GMs accelerated the setting reaction and improved the structure of the composite. The compressive strength increased up to 12 MPa (2.5 wt% GMs/CPCs) and 14 MPa (5 wt% GMs/CPCs) after one week of PBS soaking, then gradually decreased to 9 MPa (2.5 wt% GMs/CPCs) and 7 MPa (5 wt% GMs/CPCs) after three weeks of soaking, and further to 6 MPa (2.5 wt% GMs/CPCs) and 2 MPa (5 wt% GMs/CPCs) after five weeks of soaking. CPCs with 2.5 wt% GMs were the most favorable composite in the tested samples. Cell experiments showed that rat osteoblasts displayed normal morphologies when exposed to the 2.5 wt% GMs/CPCs, and proliferation of the cells was also enhanced. An in vivo study showed that new bone tissue was able to grow into the pores that resulted from GM degradation. This study suggests that the new composite could be a promising candidate for use as a bone substitute under non-compression-loaded circumstances.     

Crystallization behavior of calcium phosphate glass powder

The crystallization behavior of calcium phosphate glass powder with the molar ratio [CaO]/[P₂O₅] = 0.88, to which 6.38 mol% TiO₂ and 10 mol% Al₂O₃ were added as nucleation agents, was investigated. The results indicate complex crystallization behavior which depends on the powder particle size and the crystallization temperature. In the crystallization temperature range T _c < 900°C the surface mechanism of crystallization dominates in the case of all particle sizes ranging from 0–1 mm and the -Ca₂P₂O₇ phase is formed. At very long annealing times volume crystallization occurs and the TiP₂O₇ and AlPO₄ phases are formed. In the temperature interval T _c > 900°C the dominant crystallization mechanism depends on the particle size. In the size range 0.15–0.5 mm the surface mechanism of crystallization is replaced by the volume one. In the range >0.5 mm the volume mechanism of crystallization is dominant. The phases -Ca₂P₂O₇, TiP₂O₇ and AlPO₄ are formed in that temperature interval for all particle sizes. The additives TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ influence the nucleation and formation of TiP₂O₇ and AlPO₄ but do not influence the formation of -Ca₂P₂O₇.     

Bi-layered calcium phosphate cement-based composite scaffold mimicking natural bone structure

Abstract

In this study, a core/shell bi-layered calcium phosphate cement (CPC)-based composite scaffold with adjustable compressive strength, which mimicked the structure of natural cortical/cancellous bone, was fabricated. The dense tubular CPC shell was prepared by isostatic pressing CPC powder with a specially designed mould. A porous CPC core with unidirectional lamellar pore structure was fabricated inside the cavity of dense tubular CPC shell by unidirectional freeze casting, followed by infiltration of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and immobilization of collagen. The compressive strength of bi-layered CPC-based composite scaffold can be controlled by varying thickness ratio of dense layer to porous layer. Compared to the scaffold without dense shell, the pore interconnection of bi-layered scaffold was not obviously compromised because of its high unidirectional interconnectivity but poor three dimensional interconnectivity. The in vitro results showed that the rat bone marrow stromal cells attached and proliferated well on the bi-layered CPC-based composite scaffold. This novel bi-layered CPC-based composite scaffold is promising for bone repair.     

纳米磷酸钙骨组织工程支架材料研究进展

随着纳米和生物技术的进步,国内外学者制备了一系列新型的骨组织工程支架材料.为了更好地认识纳米生物材料的优点和指导制备新型的骨组织工程支架材料,综述了近年来纳米磷酸钙相关支架材料研究进展,着重介绍了纳米磷酸钙陶瓷、纳米磷酸钙复合陶瓷以及纳米磷酸钙/聚合物复合材料制备方法、性能和应用,并总结了各类方法的不足之处和将来发展的...     

Production of thin calcium phosphate coatings from glass source materials

Calcium phosphate (CaP) coatings, from 40 000 to 200 000 nm thick, on titanium and titanium alloy substrates, were produced using radio frequency (RF) sputtering. Such coatings on dental implants have the potential for improving initial bone ingrowth rates. The success of these coatings may allow the movement from two stage implant systems to single stage implant systems, significantly reducing the time required for healing and fixture placement. Glass source materials were developed for the RF sputtering facility and the resultant coatings were characterized and compared to coatings sputtered from a conventional plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite (HA) source material. The coatings were characterized according to their chemistry, crystalline orientation, and residual strain.     

Incorporation of a controlled-release glass into a calcium phosphate cement

A so-called controlled-release glass was synthesized occurring in the system CaO-Na₂O-P₂O₅. A certain sieve fraction of this glass was incorporated in a calcium phosphate cement, of which the powder contained -tricalcium phosphate (-TCP), dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and precipitated hydroxyapatite (HA). The glass appeared to retard the cement setting slightly and it reduced considerably the compressive strength after aging in aqueous solutions which were continuously refreshed. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) pictures and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the samples after 5 weeks of aging showed that the glass was not dissolved but that large brushite crystals were formed. Thereby, aging in CaCl₂ solutions resulted in more brushite formation than aging in NaCl solutions. The brushite crystals did not reinforce the cement. Neither was the aged glass-containing cement weaker than it was before the brushite formation right after complete setting. In conclusion, the incorporation of controlled-release glasses into a calcium phosphate cement and subsequent aging in aqueous solutions did not result in the formation of macropores in the cement structure, but that of brushite crystals. This incorporation reduced the compressive strength of the cement considerably. © 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers     

Preparation of high strength macroporous hydroxyapatite scaffold

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) powder was prepared from CaNO₃·4H₂O and (NH₄)₂HPO₄ by wet-chemical method and has phase stable up to 1250 °C. High strength macroporous HAp–naphthalene (HN) and HAp–naphthalene–benzene (HNB) scaffolds were fabricated by adapting sintering method. The resulting HAp scaffolds have porosity about 60 vol.% with compressive strength of ~ 11 MPa and average pore diameter in the range of ~ 125 μm. The incorporation of benzene in HN scaffold reduces the strength whereas enhanced both the porosity and pore size distribution. XRD, FTIR, SEM and mercury porosimeter techniques were used to study the phase purity, morphology, pore size and pore size distribution of scaffold. The study compared the effect of concentration of naphthalene on strength, porosity and pore size distribution on both HN and HNB scaffold. In-vitro bioactivity studies on HN and HNB scaffolds show the nucleation of spherical carbonated apatite particles on the surface in SBF solution.     

Elaboration conditions influence physicochemical properties and in vivo bioactivity of macroporous biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics

Two different preparations of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) were characterized in vitro: BCP₁ from a mechanical mixture of hydroxyapatite (HA) and -tricalcium phosphate (-TCP) powders, and BCP₂ from calcination of a calcium-deficient apatite (CDA). The structural, physicochemical and mechanical parameters of these two preparations were investigated, and two different macroporous BCP₁ (MBCP₁) and BCP₂ MBCP₂) implants were manufactured and implanted in rabbit bone for in vivo bioactivity studies. Scanning electron microscopy observations showed that MBCP₁ implants had a significantly higher degradation rate (P<0.0001) than MBCP₂ implants. This was probably caused by the presence of calcium oxide impurities in BCP₁ and the more intimate mixture and stable ultrastructure of BCP₂. No significant difference about the newly formed bone rate in these two BCP preparations was observed. Very slight variations in sintering conditions appeared to influence the biodegradation behavior of the two MBCP implants despite their identical HA/-TCP ratios and similar porosity. Precise and complete in vitro characterization enabled us to understand and predict in vivo degradation behavior. © 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers     

Electrodeposition of macroporous magnetic metal films using colloidal nickel phosphate templates

Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) macroporous nickel based films with randomly distributed spherical pores (diameter 90-210 nm) were synthesized by a simple templated electrodeposition route. Porous templates on Sn doped In₂O₃ (ITO) coated glass were constructed via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of colloidal nickel phosphate particles prepared by a homogeneous precipitation method. The infilling of metal was sequently carried out in an electrodeposition bath, and porous films were obtained by dissolving the templates in ammonium sulfate solution. By adjusting the deposition charge, the thickness of the porous films could be controlled from 100 nm to tens of microns. Room temperature magnetic properties of the porous films were studied, remarkably enhanced coercivity and squareness than that of corresponding plain films were observed.     

Porous calcium phosphate ceramics modified with PLGA–bioactive glass

Porous calcium phosphate ceramics (mainly hydroxyapatite) with interconnected macropores (∼1 mm) and micropores (∼5 μm) as well as high porosities (∼80%) were prepared by firing polyurethane foams that were coated with calcium phosphate cement at 1200 °C. In order to improve the mechanical properties such as compressive strength and compressive modulus and maintain the desirable bioactivity (i.e. the ability of apatite layer formation), the open micropores of the struts were infiltrated with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) to achieve an interpenetrating bioactive ceramic/biodegradable polymer composite structure. The PLGA filled struts were further coated with a 58S bioactive glass (33 wt.%)–PLGA composite coating. The PLGA–bioactive glass modified porous calcium phosphate ceramics proved to be bioactive and exhibited compressive strengths up to 7.7 MPa and compressive moduli up to 3 GPa, which were comparable to those of natural spongy bones. The obtained complex porous bioactive/biodegradable composites could be used as tissue engineering scaffolds for low-load bearing applications.     

Feasibility, tailoring and properties of polyurethane/bioactive glass composite scaffolds for tissue engineering

This research work aims to propose highly porous polymer/bioactive glass composites as potential scaffolds for hard-tissue and soft-tissue engineering. The scaffolds were prepared by impregnating an open-cells polyurethane sponge with melt-derived particles of a bioactive glass belonging to the SiO₂–P₂O₅–CaO–MgO–Na₂O–K₂O system (CEL2). Both the starting materials and the composite scaffolds were investigated from a morphological and structural viewpoint by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Tensile mechanical tests, carried out according to international ISO and ASTM standards, were performed by using properly tailored specimens. In vitro tests by soaking the scaffolds in simulated body fluid (SBF) were also carried out to assess the bioactivity of the porous composites. It was found that the composite scaffolds were highly bioactive as after 7 days of soaking in SBF a HA layer grew on their surface. The obtained polyurethane/CEL2 composite scaffolds are promising candidates for tissue engineering applications.     

磷酸钙/纤维蛋白胶复合支架材料的结构及力学性能分析

用可吸收磷酸钙骨水泥和纤维蛋白胶按一定比例体外构建复合支架材料,通过XRD、SEM、抗压实验和空隙率测试等方法对其结构及力学性能进行分析.结果发现:由于加入纤维蛋白胶,复合支架材料在一定程度上延长了磷酸钙骨水泥的初凝时间,但并不影响磷酸钙骨水泥的终凝时间;同时,加入纤维蛋白胶改变了骨水泥固化体的微观结构,提高了骨水泥的抗压强度,其最大抗压强度达到14MPa,弹性模量在96.64～269.39MPa之间,空隙率为38.8%.与在同样条件下制备的磷酸钙骨水泥比较,复合支架材料的抗压强度增强了55.6%,而空隙率仅仅下降了6.9%;XRD分析显示,复合支架材料并不影响磷酸钙骨水泥的最终的转化,其结晶结构仍是羟基磷灰石结构,是更好的骨组织工程支架材料.     

A construction of novel iron-foam-based calcium phosphate/chitosan coating biodegradable scaffold material

Slow corrosion rate and poor bioactivity restrict iron-based implants in biomedical application. In this study, we design a new iron-foam-based calcium phosphate/chitosan coating biodegradable composites offering a priority mechanical and bioactive property for bone tissue engineering through electrophoretic deposition (EPD) followed by a conversion process into a phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Tensile test results showed that the mechanical property of iron foam could be regulated through altering the construction of polyurethane foam. The priority coatings were deposited from 40% nano hydroxyapatite (nHA)/ethanol suspension mixed with 60% nHA/chitosan-acetic acid aqueous solution. In vitro immersion test showed that oxidation-iron foam as the matrix decreased the amount of iron implanted and had not influence on the bioactivity of this implant, obviously. So, this method could also be a promising method for the preparation of a new calcium phosphate/chitosan coating on foam construction.     

Interactions of total bone marrow cells with increasing quantities of macroporous calcium phosphate ceramic granules

The biological properties of synthetic calcium phosphate bioceramics have made them the third choice of material for bone reconstructive surgery, after autologous bone and allografts. Nevertheless, bioceramics lack the osteogenic properties that would allow them to repair large bone defects. One strategy in bone tissue engineering consists of associating a synthetic scaffold with osteogenic cells. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are usually isolated from bone marrow cultured for several weeks and seeded on to a small quantity of bioceramic. We have studied the association of total bone marrow cells, harvested from femurs of rats, with increasing amounts of calcium phosphate ceramic granules (50–250 mg). A cell viability test indicated that a little quantity of bioceramics granules (50 mg) was less detrimental for culturing 1 million nucleated cells from the whole bone marrow population. Cell morphology, viability, adhesion and differentiation were studied after different culture periods. Among the heterogeneous population of bone marrow cells, only a limited amount of cells attached and differentiated on the bioceramics. To explain the influence of the amount of synthetic scaffold on cell viability, media calcium concentrations were measured. Low cell viability could be explained by calcium phosphate precipitation leading to a decrease in calcium concentrations observed with relatively large amounts of scaffold. This study showed that the chemical stability of the ceramic plays a critical role in the viability of bone marrow cells.     

磷酸钙骨水泥/明胶复合组织工程支架材料的制备及其结构与性能

磷酸钙骨水泥组织工程支架材料具有良好的生物相容性和骨传导性,是一种良好的骨组织工程支架材料,但是这种材料存在力学性能差的缺点,限制了它的应用.本文采用生物相容性良好的可降解明胶材料与磷酸钙骨水泥支架进行复合,制备出的明胶/磷酸钙骨水泥复合支架材料,其压缩强度可达3.7MPa,比复合前磷酸钙支架材料的强度提高了37倍,而且材料具有良好的柔韧性,适合用作为非承重部位骨组织缺损修复用组织工程支架材料.