title: Structure and properties of nano-hydroxypatite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering with a selective laser sintering system.
abstract: In this study, nano-hydroxypatite (n-HAP) bone scaffolds are prepared by a homemade selective laser sintering (SLS) system based on rapid prototyping (RP) technology. The SLS system consists of a precise three-axis motion platform and a laser with its optical focusing device. The implementation of arbitrary complex movements based on the non-uniform rational B-Spline (NURBS) theory is realized in this system. The effects of the sintering processing parameters on the microstructure of n-HAP are tested with x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The particles of n-HAP grow gradually and tend to become spherical-like from the initial needle-like shape, but still maintain a nanoscale structure at scanning speeds between 200 and 300 mm min(-1) when the laser power is 50 W, the light spot diameter 4 mm, and the layer thickness 0.3 mm. In addition, these changes do not result in decomposition of the n-HAP during the sintering process. The results suggest that the newly developed n-HAP scaffolds have the potential to serve as an excellent substrate in bone tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Modern Complex Equipment Design and Extreme Manufacturing, Central South University, Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cijun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shuai
authors.forename: Chengde
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Huanlong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shuping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology*; D003460:Crystallization; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D007834:Lasers; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D017886:Durapatite