Fabrication and investigation of bioceramics scaffolds by a salt leaching method

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite powder was produced using sol-gel method. The Infrared Analysis of Fourier Transform (F T I R), x-ray analysis (X R D) and particle size investigation were examined after the preparation method of the powder. Using the salt leaching process, porous hydroxyapatite (HA)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) composite scaffolds were prepared and potassium chloride (KCl) is being used as porogen with particle sizes of (200-250) μm. Three-dimensional scaffolds with interconnected high porosities, ideal for bone regeneration and vascularization, are described in the materials and manufacturing technique. FTIR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), XRD were examined and also, apparent porosity was measured. From the results, it was observed that the scaffolds were contained open and interconnected pores with porosities range between (72-75%) after the sintering at temperature 1250 °C for 2 hours. The synthesized scaffold was soaked in solution of the simulated body fluid (S B F) for the purpose of evaluate the bioactivity. Bio - active ceramics demonstrate Osteoconduction by creation of biological activity bone-like apatite after immersion 7 days in SBF through the chemical reaction between a ceramic surfaces with fluid of a surrounding body. A study findings indicated that an addition of salt and then the leaching did not affect the property of a scaffold, indicating that the technique is important for scaffold development.