title: Dipping and electrospraying for the preparation of hydroxyapatite foams for bone tissue engineering.
abstract: A novel fabrication technique, a combination of slurry dipping and electrospraying, was used to produce hydroxyapatite foams as potential matrices for bone tissue engineering applications. In this study, scaffolds that were slurry dipped and electrosprayed for different time intervals were compared with foams prepared by the individual methods of dipping and electrospraying. Significant differences in the distribution of cracks on the struts, the strut thickness and porosity were observed on the sintered foams prepared under the varied conditions. All the sintered structures had average porosities in the range 84-94% and desirable pore interconnections, while the combined method produced foams of uniform pore distribution, thicker struts and improved mechanical properties. Further improvement of the mechanical properties has also been achieved by altering the sintering conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK.
authors.forename: Anushini I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Muthutantri
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Mohan J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Edirisinghe
authors.forename: Oana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bretcanu
authors.forename: Aldo R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Boccaccini
mesh_terms: D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D004548:Elasticity; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D006244:Hardness; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008422:Materials Testing; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; D005740:Gases; D017886:Durapatite