Bioactive borosilicate glass scaffolds: improvement on the strength of glass-based scaffolds for tissue engineering

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2009 Jan;20(1):365-72. doi: 10.1007/s10856-008-3582-3. Epub 2008 Sep 21.

Abstract

Three-dimensional macroporous scaffolds with the pore size of 200-500 mum were fabricated by replication method using bioactive borosilicate glass from Na(2)O-K(2)O-MgO-CaO-SiO(2)-P(2)O(5)-B(2)O(3) system. The effects of the strength of the strut in reticulated scaffold, as well as the geometrical parameter of the scaffold on the strength of reticulated scaffold were investigated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that the solidified glass struts in the reticulated scaffold could be obtained through a sufficient vicious flow of glass, during the fabrication. By increasing the solid content in slurries, from which the scaffold was made, the load-bearing units of the reticulated scaffold switch from struts to the walls between the pores, and the compressive strength dramatically climbs higher than the theoretical strength calculated by Gibson model. In particular, the compressive strength of the reticulated scaffold, as high as approximately 10 MPa with the porosity of approximately 70%, is close to the reported compressive values of human cancellous bone. This indicates the bioactive borosilicate glass-based scaffold is a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Bone Substitutes / chemistry*
  • Ceramics / chemistry*
  • Compressive Strength
  • Humans
  • Materials Testing
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Silicates / chemistry*
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Bioglass
  • Bone Substitutes
  • Silicates