Fabrication and characterization of biomorphic 45S5 bioglass scaffold from sugarcane

A biomorphic 45S5 bioglass scaffold has been fabricated from natural plant sugarcane successfully by a novel biotemplating process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (MR), and thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) technologies were employed to characterize the morphology, phase and chemical composition of the products. Experimental results show that the as-fabricated 45S5 bioglass scaffold retained the microstructure of sugarcane very well, and consisted of major crystal phase Na(2)Ca(2)Si(3)O(9) of hexagonal system, secondary crystal phase orthorhombic NaCaPO(4) and amorphous glass. The biomorphic 45S5 bioglass scaffold may be a promising candidate scaffold for bone tissue engineering. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.