Forsterite Nanopowder Research Articles

In vitro antibacterial effect of forsterite nanopowder: synthesis and characterization

The aims of this study were the preparation, characterization, and in vitro antibacterial activity evaluation of forsterite (FS, Mg2SiO4) nanopowder obtained by two major methods, namely sol-gel (FSsg) and co-precipitation (FSpp). The main aim was to determine the influence of preparation methodologies on physical properties and in vitro antibacterial activity of obtained forsterite nanopowder. To assess the best working temperature for the preparation of FSsg and FSpp, the synthesis and thermal treatment conditions were optimized on the basis of thermal gravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis performed on the dried gel and dried co-precipitated solid, respectively. The FSsg and FSpp powders were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), indicating a high purity for both FSsg and FSpp powders. The morphology of FSsg and FSpp nanopowders was explored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In vitro antibacterial activity was investigated using a targeted pathogen, namely Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) ATCC 6538 P as tested strain by broth dilution technique and inoculations on nutrient agar to highlight the bactericidal inhibitory effect. FSsg nanopowder has no inhibitory capacity, while FSpp produced inhibition, the effect being bactericidal at a concentration of 10 mg/mL. The superior bactericidal activity of FSpp against FSsg is due to variation in the own surface properties, such as specific surface area (SSA) and nano-regime particle size. The FSpp nanoparticles, NPs, obtained by co-precipitation method are reported for the first time as a novel bactericidal nanomaterial against S. aureus.

Synthesis and Characterization of forsterite nanopowder ceramic via mechanical activation

This project investigates the synthesis of single-phase nano crystalline forsteritepowder by mechanical activation with subsequent annealing. To produceforsterite powder, a mixture of talc and magnesium oxide powders was first milledby a planetary ball mill, and then annealed at 1000 and 1200 8C for 1 h. Thesynthesized powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), simultaneousthermal analysis (STA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomicabsorption spectrometry (AAS). The initial temperature of forsterite crystallizationwas reduced to about 825 8C after 20 h of mechanical activation. The forsteritepowder synthesized by 5 h of mechanical activation with subsequent annealingat 1000 8C for 1 h had crystallites 40 n min size. The particle size of this samplewas less than 500 nm.

Hydrothermally assisted synthesis of pure-phase and well-dispersed forsterite nanopowders

This study introduces a hydrothermal method for the synthesis of forsterite nanopowders. The resultant precursors obtained by hydrothermal pretreatment exhibited a much higher specific surface area (311.37 m2/g) than the precursor obtained by the conventional solid-state method. When the precursors were calcined at 1000 °C for 2 h, single-phase forsterite nanopowders with an average grain size of approximately 78 nm and an average particle size of approximately 234 nm were obtained. During the calcination process, the release of abundant water from the decomposition of intermediates Mg(OH)2 at ~380 °C and Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 at ~581 °C enhanced the dispersibility of the powder. Additionally, the formation of Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 with the Mg/Si ratio of approximately 2: 1 may have favored a pure forsterite phase at low temperatures. When the as-synthesized nanopowders were used as starting materials, the fabricated Mg2SiO4 nanocrystalline ceramics exhibited 93.7% of their theoretical density and a relatively narrow grain size distribution, with an average grain size of approximately 310 nm.

Ultra-fast, highly efficient and green synthesis of bioactive forsterite nanopowder via microwave irradiation

Forsterite (Mg2SiO4) has recently attracted considerable attention in different fields because of its wide range of applications. In this paper, pure forsterite nanopowders were synthesized by an ultra-fast, highly efficient and green method for the first time. Microwave irradiation was used to synthesize forsterite nanopowder. The formation of highly crystalline forsterite nanopowder was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) analyses. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses showed that the agglomerated powder composed of nanocrystalline particles with the mean particle size of ~100 nm. Microwave irradiation significantly accelerated the rate of the reactions and dramatically decreased reaction times from hours to minutes and seconds. In vitro bioactivity evaluation was performed by soaking the forsterite samples in simulated body fluid (SBF). Results indicated that synthesized forsterite nanopowder via microwave irradiation method possessed excellent apatite-forming ability in SBF. Cell viability results showed that synthesized forsterite nanopowder not only showed no cytotoxicity but also improved cell proliferation. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay indicated that the fabricated forsterite nanopowder could facilitate the MG63 osteoblast-like cells to proliferate and differentiate. Therefore, microwave-assisted synthesis technique could be considered as a novel, safe and high efficient method in saving time and energy for bioactive forsterite nanopowder production.

Structural characterization and strengthening mechanism of forsterite nanostructured scaffolds synthesized by multistep sintering method

In this study, highly porous forsterite scaffolds with interconnected porosities were synthesized using multi-step sintering (MSS) method. The starting powder was nanosized forsterite, which was synthesized from talc and magnesium carbonate powders. The phase composition, average particle size and morphology of the produced forsterite powder were characterized by X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) and transition electron microscopy (TEM). Forsterite scaffolds were produced by foamy method using polymeric sponges. MSS process including three steps was used to efficiently sinter the forsterite nanopowders without destroying the initial porous structure of polymeric sponges. The results showed that MSS technique is an efficient and appropriate procedure to produce highly porous forsterite scaffolds with pore size in the range of 100–300 μm. The compressive strength, compressive modulus and porosity of C12 specimen (sintered at 1650 °C for 1 h with subsequent annealing at 1000 °C for 1000 min) was 1.88 MPa, 29.2 MPa, and 72.4%, respectively, which is very close to that of cancellous bone. The approach studied in this research can be developed for other nanostructure ceramics to produce highly porous scaffolds with interconnected porosities for load bearing applications.

Nanoscale synthesis of single-phase forsterite by reverse strike co-precipitation and its high optical and mechanical properties

Forsterite is a magnesium silicon oxide mineral with an olivine structure and a diverse spectrum of applications, ranging from biomedical to optical devices. Controlled purity and crystalline phases are key requirements for such applications, but the literature shows a limited understanding of the synthetic routes that would enable such control, in particular at the nanoscale. In this work, single-phase forsterite nanopowder with a crystallite size of 15.3nm was synthesized by reverse strike co-precipitation. A reaction mechanism for the synthesis was proposed based on DSC/TGA analysis and intermediate products. Forsterite pellets using the nanopowder were produced by low-cost cold-pressing and showed high transparency and densities above 93%. The nanosized crystals allowed for lower sintering temperatures and enhanced hardness.

Spark plasma sintering of forsterite nanopowder and mechanical properties of sintered materials

In the present research, spark plasma sintering (SPS) of forsterite nanopowders was investigated for the first time. In addition, sintering behavior and mechanical properties (hardness and fracture toughness) of the samples prepared by SPS and conventional sintering (CS) were compared. The maximum densities achieved by SPS and CS methods were 99% and 93%, respectively. The average grain size of SPS-sintered forsterite under 50 MPa pressure at 1200 °C was about 350 nm, while for the samples conventionally sintered at 1400 °C, the average grain size was remarkably larger (about 2.3 µm). The Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of the SPS sintered-samples at 1200 °C were found to be 1098 Hv and 4.1 MPa m1/2, respectively. SPS-sintered forsterite samples had the advantages of higher mechanical properties and very short period of sintering process in comparison with those reported by other methods.

Sr-doped forsterite nanopowder: Synthesis and biological properties

Abstract Nanoscale forsterite (Mg 2 SiO 4 ) has recently been proposed for bone tissue engineering application. Due to the special role of strontium (Sr) in bone remodeling, the stimulation of bone formation and reduction in bone resorption, the modification of forsterite by doping with Sr is expected to increase bioactivity and biocompatibility. The aim of this study was to incorporate Sr (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 at%) into forsterite using sol-gel method and to investigate the effect of Sr content on the phase composition, in vitro apatite-formation ability as well as osteoblast-like MG63 viability. Results demonstrated that while forsterite was the main phase of all Sr-doped forsterite nanopowders, Sr 2 MgSi 2 O 7 , MgO and MgSiO 3 were present as the minor phases depending on the Sr content. Moreover, the presence of Sr atom influenced the crystallite and particle size as well as lattice parameters of the forsterite powder, while did not significantly change the morphology of particles. Noticeably, the incorporation of Sr up to 0.2 at% enhanced the average crystallite size (from 25.3 nm to 45.9 nm) and particle size (31.0 ± 3.9 nm to 62.9 ± 11.8 nm) of pure forsterite powder. Additionally, according to the Rietveld refinement, the incorporation of Sr up to 0.2 at% increased the lattice parameters of forsterite more than 0.1%, depending on the Sr content. In vitro bioactivity assessment in simulated body fluid (SBF) revealed while all Sr-forsterite samples possessed greater bioactivity than pure forsterite nanopowder, the incorporation of 0.1 at% Sr revealed improved bioactivity compared to other Sr-forsterite samples. However, according to MTT assay, while all forsterite-based ceramics significantly improved the cell proliferation compared to tissue culture plate (TCP) and forsterite nanopowder, Sr-forsterite nanopowders consisting of 0.05–0.1 at% Sr revealed a considerably promoted cell proliferation. In conclusion, Sr-forsterite nanopowder could be a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering and reconstruction of bone defects such as osteoporosis.

Electrochemical and in vitro bioactivity of nanocomposite gelatin-forsterite coatings on AISI 316 L stainless steel

Abstract AISI 316L stainless steel has been widely considered as implant materials in biomedical applications owing to its low cost and superior strength. However, its weak corrosion resistance due to the release of nickel, chromate and molybdenum ions as well as its inert nature limits its clinical application specifically long-standing performances. The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize gelatin-forsterite (Mg2SiO4) nanocomposite coatings consisting of various amounts of forsterite nanopowder (0, 1, 2.5 and 5 wt.%) on AISI 316L substrate in order to improve simultaneously corrosion resistance and in vitro bioactivity. Nanocomposite gelatin-forsterite coatings were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, the bioactivity of gelatin-forsterite coated specimens were evaluated via soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 28 days at 37 °C. Results demonstrated the formation of crack-free and homogeneous coatings without any observable defect and pore. The surface roughness and adhesion strength of the coatings enhanced with increasing forsterite content. Moreover, the corrosion evaluation considered by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated that compered to unmodified AISI 316L substrate, the corrosion resistance of gelatin-forsterite nanocomposite-coated substrates significantly improved. Moreover, nanocomposite coatings were able to persist severe localized corrosion in physiological solution indicating their long-term biostability. Moreover, the formation of bone-like apatite layer on the nanocomposite-coated samples was observed in SBF, which might be helpful to integrate with host tissue. Overall, it is anticipated that the novel proposed nanocomposite coatings of gelatin-forsterite might be potentially useful for orthopedic implants.

Corrosion and bioactivity evaluation of nanocomposite PCL-forsterite coating applied on 316L stainless steel

Abstract The weak corrosion resistance is the main drawback of 316L stainless steel (316 LSS) as implant materials for biomedical applications. Therefore, surface modification of 316 LSS with various coating techniques, which could simultaneously improve the corrosion resistance, biocompatibility and bioactivity is necessary. The present study was aimed to design a novel nanocomposite poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL)-forsterite (Mg2SiO4) coating on 316 LSS using dip-coating technique to improve bioactivity and corrosion resistance. Furthermore, the effects of various concentrations of forsterite nanopowder (0, 1, 2.5 and 5 wt.%) on the morphology, contact angle, roughness, in vitro bioactivity and corrosion resistance were investigated. Results confirmed the successful formation of crack-free nanocomposite coating on 316 LSS. Moreover, in vitro bioactivity of the nanocomposite coatings demonstrated enhanced Ca-P precipitation on the surface of samples with increasing forsterite content. The corrosion evaluation considered by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated that while PCL and PCL-forsterite nanocomposites coatings showed improved corrosion resistance compared to 316 LSS, nanocomposite coatings consisting of 1 wt.% forsterite nanopowder exhibited superior resistance to corrosion attack than pristine PCL, and were able to survive severe localized corrosion in physiological solution. It is envisioned that the proposed nanocomposite can be useful for orthopedic applications in the future.

A modified method to synthesize single-phase forsterite nanoparticles at low temperature

In this paper forsterite (Mg2SiO4) nanopowder with particle size in the range of 33 and 112nm was synthesized by a combination of sol–gel and ball milling methods. Magnesium nitrate and silica were used as the sources of magnesium and silicon in the forsterite nanopowder. Thermogravimetry (TG) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques were utilized to characterize the synthesized powders. Single-phase nanocrystalline forsterite powder with mean crystallite size of about 16nm was obtained from sol–gel method with subsequent ball milling for 5h and heat treatment at 750°C for 1h. A combination of sol–gel and mechanical activation led to the formation of more homogeneous powder and subsequently lower sintering temperature to produce forsterite powder. In vitro biological studies were performed by immersing the forsterite samples in simulated body fluid (SBF). The results showed that nanostructure forsterite is bioactive and possessed apatite formation ability.

Preparation and biocompatibility evaluation of bioactive glass-forsterite nanocomposite powder for oral bone defects treatment applications.

Bone defects which emerge around dental implants are often seen when implants are placed in areas with insufficient alveolar bone, in extraction sockets, or around failing implants. Bone regeneration in above-mentioned defects using of bone grafts or bone substitutes may cure the long-term prognoses of dental implants. Biocompatibility, bioactivity and osteogenic properties are key factors affecting the applications of a bone substitute. This study was aimed at preparation, characterization, biocompatibility and bioactivity evaluation of the bioactive glass-forsterite nanocomposite powder as a desired candidate for oral bone defect treatments. Nanocomposite powders containing 58S bioactive glass and different amounts of forsterite nanopowder were synthesized in situ by sol-gel technique. Characterization of the prepared nanocomposite powders and their cytotoxicity assessment was performed via MTT test. Bioactivity assessment was done by immersing the prepared powder in the simulated body fluid (SBF). Results showed that nanocomposite powders containing forsterite with crystallite size of 20-50nm were successfully fabricated by calcination at 600°C. The prepared bioactive glass-forsterite nanocomposite powders revealed high in vitro biocompatibility; besides, the nanocomposite containing 20wt.% forsterite showed a substantial increase in the cell viability compared with control groups. During immersion in SBF, the formation of apatite layer confirmed the bioactivity of bioactive glass-forsterite nanocomposite powders. According to the results, the fabricated nanocomposite powders can be introduced as a promising candidate for oral bone imperfection treatments and hard tissue mend.

PCL-forsterite nanocomposite fibrous membranes for controlled release of dexamethasone.

The well-known treatment of the alveolar bone defects is guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Engineered membranes combined with osteo-differentiation factors have been offered a promising strategy for GTR application. Recently, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-forsterite (PCL-F) nanocomposite fibrous membranes have been developed. However, PCL-F membranes could not promote bone tissue regeneration. The aim of this research is to encapsulate an osteogenic factor [dexamethasone (DEX)] in PCL-F membranes and evaluate the effects of forsterite nanopowder (particle size = 25-45 nm) and fiber organization on DEX delivery for GTR application. The hypothesis is that the release kinetic and profile of DEX could be controlled through variation of forsterite content (0, 5 and 10 wt%) and fiber arrangement (aligned and random). Results demonstrated while DEX release was sustained over a period of 4 weeks, its kinetic was governed by the membrane architecture and composition. For example, aligned PCL-F nanocomposite fibrous membrane consisting of 10 %(w/v) forsterite nanopowder exhibited the least initial burst release (13 % release in the first 12 h) and allowed sustained release of DEX. Additionally, forsterite nanopowder inclusion changed the kinetic of DEX release from Fickian diffusion to an anomalous transport. The bioactivity of released DEX was estimated using culturing the stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) on the membranes. Results demonstrated that proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of SHED could be governed by DEX release process. While DEX release from the membranes decreased SHED proliferation, stimulated the matrix mineralization. Our finding indicated that aligned PCL-F/DEX membrane could be used as a carrier for the sustained release of drugs relevant for GTR trophy.

Novel electrophoretic deposited nanostructured forsterite coating on 316L stainless steel implants for biocompatibility improvement

In this research, a novel nanostructured forsterite coating was deposited on AISI 316L stainless steel substrates by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method. Forsterite nanopowders were synthesized using the mechanical activation method. The as-milled nanoparticles were then immersed in a slurry containing 0.5wt% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in order to obtain PVA-coated forsterite nanopowders. The PVA-coated powder particles were electrophoretically deposited on metallic substrates under various conditions (times and voltages). As-deposited coatings were then subjected to a two-step sintering process. The forsterite coatings deposited under different conditions were characterized in terms of microstructural and bioactivity properties. The bioactivity of the prepared specimens was evaluated in simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37°C for up to 28 days. Results showed that the coating which was deposited after 5min under a voltage of 25V was homogeneous and crack-free. The nanostructured forsterite coated samples possessed apatite-formation ability during immersion in SBF.

Development of a Novel Hybrid Porous Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering: Forsterite Nanopowder Reinforced Chitosan

In order to induce bone regeneration several natural and synthetic materials have been proposed. However, single-phase scaffolds present some insurmountable disadvantages such as poor mechanical strength or brittleness and too low or too high degradation rate. In order to overcome these drawbacks, composite systems can be an interesting and promising option. In the present work a novel hybrid porous scaffold for bone tissue engineering is proposed. Chitosan/Forsterite (Ch/FS) composite scaffolds were prepared by freeze-drying method using a chitosan/forsterite ratio of 90/10. The FS nanopowder (Mg2SiO4) is synthesized using a simple solgel based method. The FS composition was checked by XRD analysis. The macrostructure of the Ch/FS scaffolds were analyzed by SEM, the FS distribution within the chitosan matrix observed by EDS, the mechanical strength measured by compression test in PBS and the biocompatibility of the composite on human osteosarcoma cell line (MG-63) verified by MTT assay after 48 hours. The porosity appears interconnected and with a pore size ranging from 1 to 100 μm. The FS is overall distributed within the chitosan matrix. The compression strength of composite scaffolds increased with respect to the pure chitosan scaffolds of more than two times (from 0.8 to 1.9 KPa) and the composites did not show any toxicity effect on human osteosarcoma cells.

Microwave synthesis and sintering of forsterite nanopowder produced by high energy ball milling

This paper reports the development of a new process for the synthesis and sintering of forsterite nanopowder via microwave-assisted high energy ball milling of a powder mixture containing silica gel and Mg(OH)2. X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR spectrometer, BET, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were utilized to characterize the as-milled and annealed samples. X-ray diffraction results showed that highly ordered forsterite can be obtained through the calcination of the as-milled powder over 900°C. In addition, SEM and TEM observations of the synthesized powders showed that the particle size of the powder lies in the nanometer range, also being compared with the BET results (about 45 to 64.5nm). Microwave sintering (MS) of the forsterite nanopowder produced with high energy ball milling and subsequent microwave heating resulted in remarkable enhancement in densification in comparison with conventional sintering (CS) at lower temperatures.

Effects of surface modification on the mechanical and structural properties of nanofibrous poly(ε-caprolactone)/forsterite scaffold for tissue engineering applications

Composite scaffolds consisting of polymers reinforced with ceramic nanoparticles are widely applied for hard tissue engineering. However, due to the incompatible polarity of ceramic nanoparticles with polymers, they tend to agglomerate in the polymer matrix which results in undesirable effects on the integral properties of composites. In this research, forsterite (Mg2SiO4) nanoparticles was surface esterified by dodecyl alcohol and nanofibrous poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL)/modified forsterite scaffolds were developed through electrospinning technique. The aim of this research was to investigate the properties of surface modified forsterite nanopowder and PCL/modified forsterite scaffolds, before and after hydrolytic treatment, as well as the cellular attachment and proliferation. Results demonstrated that surface modification of nanoparticles significantly enhanced the tensile strength and toughness of scaffolds upon 1.5- and 4-folds compared to unmodified samples, respectively, due to improved compatibility between matrix and filler. Hydrolytic treatment of scaffolds also modified the bioactivity and cellular attachment and proliferation due to greatly enhanced hydrophilicity of the forsterite nanoparticles after this process compared to surface modified samples. Results suggested that surface modification of forsterite nanopowder and hydrolytic treatment of the developed scaffolds were effective approaches to address the issues in the formation of composite fibers and resulted in development of bioactive composite scaffolds with ideal mechanical and structural properties for bone tissue engineering applications.

Development of novel aligned nanofibrous composite membranes for guided bone regeneration

The ability to mimic the structure of the natural extracellular matrix is a successful key for guided bone regeneration (GBR). For the regeneration of highly organized structures such as heart and bone, aligned fibrous membranes could provide anisotropic mechanical and biological properties which are adequate topographic guidance to cells. Here, novel nanofibrous membranes were developed through electrospinning of PCL-forsterite nanopowder. The membranes were characterized with regard to structural and mechanical properties, degradation, bioactivity and cellular interactive responses. Results showed that optimized nanofibrous composite membrane with significantly improved tensile strength and elastic modules was achieved through addition of 10wt% forsterite nanopowder into PCL membrane. Addition of forsterite nanopowder decreased the average fiber diameters from 872±361nm (pure PCL membrane) to 258±159nm (PCL-10wt% forsterite membrane). At higher forsterite contents (>10wt%), the agglomeration of nanoparticles was observed which resulted in reduced mechanical properties. Aligned fibrous membranes revealed smaller fiber sizes and significantly enhanced and anisotropic mechanical properties compared to random ones suggesting that fiber alignment has a profound effect on the structural properties of membranes. Forsterite nanopowder increased the degradation rate showing enhanced hydrophilicity and induced apatite formation in simulated body fluid. Furthermore, composite nanofibrous membranes possessed significantly improved cellular responses in terms of attachment, proliferation and mineralization of pre-osteoblasts compared to PCL membrane. Thus, the currently developed nanofibrous composite membranes embedded in forsterite nanopowder expected to be attractive in GBR membrane applications.

Novel Fluorapatite‐Forsterite Nanocomposite Powder for Oral Bone Defects

Failing implants lead to osseous defects. Guided tissue regeneration made of bioactive ceramics has been used to promote bone formation in osseous deformation. The aim of this study was to prepare and to characterize the fluorapatite/forsterite nanocomposite powder for treatment of oral bone defects. In this study, these composite powders with different contents of forsterite nanopowder were prepared via sol‐gel process. Characterization of prepared nanocomposite powders and their cytotoxicity evaluation were done and compared with pure forsterite and fluorapatite powders. Results showed that nanocomposite powders with crystallite size of about 21–24 nm were fabricated successfully by gel calcination at 600°C. Besides the non‐toxicity effects of powders, nanocomposite containing 20 wt% forsterite significantly increased cell viability compared with control groups. According to these results, these nanocomposite powders might be suitable as bioactive material for oral bone defect.

Preparation and characterization of polycaprolactone/forsterite nanocomposite porous scaffolds designed for bone tissue regeneration

Biocomposite scaffolds made from polymers and bioceramics can provide the mechanical structure necessary for osteoinductivity in the growth of new bone. The aim of this research was to investigate the properties of a novel nanocomposite scaffold made from a combination of polycaprolactone (PCL) and forsterite nanopowder which could find use in bone tissue engineering applications. The scaffold itself was fabricated by a method of solvent casting and particle leaching. The effect of forsterite content on the mechanical properties, bioactivity, biodegradability, and cytotoxicity of the scaffolds was investigated. Significant improvement in the mechanical properties was observed in the nanocomposite scaffolds as compared to that seen in the pure PCL scaffolds. Bioactivity was also observed in the nanocomposite scaffolds, a trait which was not present in the pure PCL scaffolds. Biodegradation assay indicated that the addition of forsterite nanopowder could modulate the degradation rate of PCL. In vitro tests of cytotoxicity and osteoblast proliferation showed that the nanocomposite scaffolds were non-cytotoxic, thereby allowing cells to adhere, grow, and proliferate on the surface of these scaffolds. The results obtained in this experiment suggest that the combination of PCL with forsterite nanopowder can be used to form scaffolds suitable for use in bone tissue engineering. The exact material behavior required can be adjusted through variation of the ratio between PCL and forsterite nanopowder used to form the scaffold.