title: Novel method of preparing hydroxyapatite foams.
abstract: Porous scaffolds are considered a key strategy in the concept of bone tissue engineering. Hydroxyapatite, which is a bioceramic has been used as a popular scaffold material due to its bioactive and osteoconductive properties. A combination of slurry-dipping and electrospraying has been used as a new foam fabrication method to produce porous and interconnected foam structures. The combined method has shown to overcome the shortcomings of the individual methods and it has produced open pores in the desired range of 100-350 microm. The porosity which was determined by calculation and microtomography was between 84% and 88%. Reduced cracks and thicker struts were observed in the microstructure, pointing to improved mechanical properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK.
authors.forename: Anushini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muthutantri
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Mohan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edirisinghe
mesh_terms: D001861:Bone Regeneration; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D012984:Software; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; D011108:Polymers; D011140:Polyurethanes; D017886:Durapatite