Bioactivation of knitted cellulose scaffolds by strontium

Strontium has attained increasing interest in the treatment of osteoporosis due to its anabolic as well as antiresorptive activity. Knitted cellulose scaffolds with a porosity suitable to promote bone tissue ingrowth and vascularisation were doped with SrCO3. The in vitro bioactivity of the modified scaffolds was proven by formation of hydroxyapatite during exposure to simulated body fluid. The Sr-release kinetics during static exposure to simulated body fluid is dominated by an accelerated Sr-release in the initial state followed by a reduced release corresponding to a diffusion controlled rate. Microstructural analyses indicate that initially precipitated SrCO3 transforms to Sr (x) Ca1-x CO3 solid solutions that subsequently serve as a template for the precipitation of bone like carbonated hydroxyapatite under conditions simulating the inorganic part of the human blood plasma.