Smart calcium phosphate bioceramic scaffold for bone tissue engineering

Abstract

The development of CaP ceramics involved a better control of the process of resorption and bone substitution. Micro Macroporous Biphasic CaP, (MBCP+™) is a concept based on an optimum balance of the more stable phase of HA and more soluble TCP. The material is soluble and gradually dissolves in the body, seeding new bone formation as it releases Ca and P ions into the biological medium. The MBCP+ is selected for tissue engineering in a large European research program on osteoinduction and mesenchymal stem cell technology (REBORNE 7th EU frame work program, Regenerative Bone defects using New biomedical Engineering approaches, www.reborne.org). We have optimized the matrices in terms of their physical, chemical, and crystal properties, to improve cell colonization and to increase kinetic bone ingrowth. The fast cell colonization and resorption of the material are associated to the interconnected macropores structure which enhances the resorption bone substitution process. The micropore content involves biological fluid diffusion and suitable adsorption surfaces for circulating growth factors. The bioceramics developed for this project was fully characterized using X-Ray diffraction, FTIR, X-rays micro tomography, Hg porosimetry, BET specific surface area, compressive mechanical test, and SEM. Preclinical tests on the optimized scaffold were realized in critical size defects in several sites of implantation and animals (rats, rabbits, goats, dogs).The smart scaffold has a total porosity of 73%, constituted of macropores (>100μm), mesopores of 10 to 100μm and high micropores (<10μm) content of more or less 40%. The crystal size is <0.5 to 1 μm and the specific surface area was around 6m2/g. The in vivo experiment indicated higher colonization by osteogenic cells demonstrating suitable matrices for tissue engineering. The HA/TCP ratio of 20/80 was also more efficient for combination with total bone marrow or stem cell cultivation and expansion before to be implanted. © (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.