Abstract
Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous biomaterials containing hydroxyapatite were synthesized using natural luffa cylindrical fibres (with diameter of 100-400 mu m) as templates. The preliminary evaluation of this novel method for production of porous bioceramics showed promising potential applications in bone tissue engineering. The produced bioceramics were subjected to microstructural, physical, mechanical, and in vitro characterisation. Mercury intrusion porosimetry, supported by SEM analysis, showed the presence of bimodal porosity (smaller pores with diameters of 10 to 30 mu m and cylindrical macropores with diameters from 100 to 400 mu m) and 60% of the interconnected porosity. These porous calcium phosphate ceramics proved to be bioactive and exhibited mechanical properties comparable to those of natural spongy bones with compressive strength up to 3 MPa and elastic modulus in compression around 0.05 GPa. In vitro characterization of the porous ceramics showed cells attaching to the apatite crystals that make up the scaffold matrix. Cell adhesion resulted in elongated and highly stretched cells within the macropores with focal adhesion points on the scaffolds. Moreover, the cells adhered to the calcium phosphate cement (CPC) and developed cytoplasmic extensions as shown by SEM imagery. Their proliferation in the scaffolds in culture demonstrates that the scaffold architecture is suitable for Mesenchymal stem cells seeding and growth.