title: Biodegradable composite scaffolds with an interconnected spherical network for bone tissue engineering.
abstract: Tissue engineering scaffolds are highly engineered structures that accommodate cells, facilitate their expression, and resorb to facilitate regeneration of tissue. A new technique for producing controlled pore shape and pore size interconnectivity offers promise for application as a tissue engineering scaffold. Salt particles were spheroidized in a flame and sintered to provide an interconnecting salt template. The salt template was filled with a carbonated fluorapatite powder and a polylactic polymer to produce a composite scaffold. It was found that a higher pore space is possible with the use of spherical and larger salt particle sizes. This technique can produce scaffolds with good interconnectivity and be suitable for producing pore size graded bodies.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Monash University, Building 69, Monash University, 69, VIC 3800, Australia. karlis.gross@spme.monash.edu.au
authors.forename: Kārlis A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Lorenzo
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D001031:Apatites; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012492:Salts / Q000737:chemistry*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D012492:Salts; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride; C033616:poly(lactide)