title: Synthesis of spherical hydroxyapatite granules with interconnected pore channels using camphene emulsion.
abstract: The aim of this study was to fabricate porous spherical hydroxyapatite (HA) granules with interconnected pore channels for use as a bone graft substitute. Various weights of camphene porogen were mixed with nano-sized HA powder (camphene/HA = 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90% w/w) and 10% gelatin aqueous solution then added to the mixture. The water-in-oil emulsion method was employed to obtain spherical-shaped granules, of which those 1000-2000 μm in diameter were selectively classified using a standard sieve set. Thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction were used to determine optimal sintering conditions. The sintered granules were characterized using field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), microcomputed tomography, and porosimetry. The pore size and porosity of spherical HA granules increased with the addition of camphene. Granules with a HA/camphene ratio of 90% (HG90) demonstrated macropores (>50 μm) with interconnected pore channels (porosity: 58.49%). In addition, FE-SEM examination of HG90 coated with polycaprolactone showed that the granule may hold promise as a drug delivery carrier. We concluded that these HG90 granules merit consideration as a bone graft substitute or drug delivery carrier in bone tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Biological Engineering, Graduate School, Kyungpook National University, Jung-gu, Daegu 700-412, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kyo-Han
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang-Kook
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Tapash R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Rautray
authors.forename: Tae-Yub
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006882:Hydroxyapatites / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity; D011208:Powders; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D006882:Hydroxyapatites; D011208:Powders