|
|
 |
Advanced Biomaterials and Devices in Medicine
December 2015, Volume 2, Issue 2, pp 53–62
β-TCP-FeMg biodegradable nanocomposites: in vivo behavior and bone scaffold processing
S.K. Swain1, I. Gotman1, E.Y. Gutmanas1,2*
1 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
2 National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, 634050 Russia
* Corresponding author: Prof. Elazar Y. Gutmanas, e-mail: gutmanas@tx.technion.ac.il
Abstract
40 to 70% porous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) based bone scaffolds reinforced by FeMg metallic phase were produced by mixing precompacted nanocomposite granules (β-TCP with 30 vol % FeMg) of different size with salt particles followed by high pressure consolidation at room temperature and porogen dissolution. The use of precompacted granules instead of the loose β-TCP-30 (FeMg) powder allowed us to obtain scaffolds with high Darcy’s permeability while maintaining load bearing characteristics. Scaffolds with 50% porosity exhibited the best combination of compressive strength (8.5–10.5 MPa) and permeability (~3.5x10–10 m2) falling within the range of trabecular bone. Subcutaneous implantation of dense β-TCP-30 (FeMg) discs in mice demonstrated the absence of the scaffold material toxicity. The formation of degradation products (Fe-oxides and Fe-phosphate) on the implant surface, as well as a 30–40% loss of compressive strength after 3 months implantation indicated the degradation of β-TCP-30 (FeMg) in vivo. No pronounced reduction in volume or mass loss was observed suggesting the protective action of the iron-phosphate surface layer.
Keywords: bone scaffold, nanocomposite, β-TCP, iron, magnesium, subcutaneous implantation
|
