Fabrication of highly porous merwinite scaffold using the space holder method

Abstract

In this study, for the first time, the space holder method was used to fabricate a 3D macroporous nanostructured merwinite scaffold with highly interconnected spherical pores. The nanostructured merwinite powders were prepared by the sol-gel method and an optimal calcination cycle was ascertained. The average values of true and apparent porosities of the prepared scaffolds calculated in the range 85 – 81 % and 80 – 74 %, respectively, while the macropore sizes are determined in the range of 400 – 600 lm. The compressive strength of the prepared scaffold was obtained to be about 0.18 – 0.29 MPa. Immersion testing in simulated body fluid proved the appropriate bioactivity and biodegradability of the prepared scaffolds. Our study indicated the merwinite scaffold possessed suitable mechanical strength along with highly porous structure and apatite-formation ability which could be used for bone tissue engineering applications.