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Highly Porous Scaffolds Made of Nanosized Hydroxyapatite Powder Synthesized from Eggshells

S.M. Naga, H.F. El-Maghraby, M. Sayed, E.A. Saad

Journal of Ceramic Science and Technology, Vol. 6, No. 3 (2015), pp. 237-244

DOI: 10.4416/JCST2014-00058

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Abstract

Nanosize hydroxyapatite powder synthesized indirectly from eggshells is used to produce 3D porous scaffolds. They are fabricated via a polymeric sponge method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are used to characterize the phase composition and grain size of the scaffolds, respectively. The results showed that the prepared powder is composed of pure hydroxyapatite with a grain size ranging between 35 and 122 nm. The prepared scaffolds calcined at 1250 °C for 2 h possess interconnected porosity (≈ 73 %). The studied scaffolds showed suitable mechanical strength necessary for bone tissue engineering. Their crushing and bending strengths were 0.82 MPa and 1.72 MPa, respectively. Thin film XRD, SEM and EDS confirmed the presence of a rich bone-like apatite layer post-immersion in SBF on the scaffold's surface.

Keywords

Bioceramics, hydroxyapatite, porous scaffolds, mechanical properties

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