title: Biomineralization of calcium disilicide in porous polycaprolactone scaffolds.
abstract: The incorporation of CaSi(2) grains within a polycaprolactone (PCL) framework results in bioactive and biodegradable scaffolds which may be used in bone tissue regeneration. Porous PCL scaffolds were prepared via a combination of salt-leaching and microemulsion methods. To provide markedly different structural environments for the inorganic phase, calcium disilicide powder was either added to a mixed-composition porogen during a given scaffold preparation, or alternatively added to pre-formed scaffolds. Selective fluorescent labeling, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis were employed to assess scaffold calcification in vitro. The process of CaSi(2)/PCL scaffold calcification under zero bias, during which calcium phosphate growth is significantly dependent on the structural degradation of CaSi(2) grains, has a similar mechanism as the calcium phosphate growth on bioactive glasses/ceramics. The biomineralization of these scaffolds is initiated solely by the silicide phase and can be accelerated by the degradation of the polymer matrix.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Texas Christian University, TCU Box 298860, Fort Worth, 76129, USA.
authors.forename: Vladimir V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Seregin
authors.forename: Jeffery L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Coffer
mesh_terms: D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D011091:Polyesters; D017655:Silicon Compounds; C514365:calcium disilicide; C016240:polycaprolactone