Biomimetic fabrication of BCP/COL/HCA scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

A kind of novel three-dimensional scaffolds for bone tissue engineering was developed using the biomimetic synthesis method combined with sol-gel and freeze-drying techniques. The biodegradable scaffolds were prepared from biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) as basic materials. Naphthalene was used as porogen and collagen (type I) network matrix was immobilized on the pore walls and surface of the scaffold through freeze-drying and cross-linking with EDC/NHS. The collagen matrix was thought to play an important role in inducing mineralization of hydroxyl-carbonate-apatite (HCA) on the surface of the scaffold. The scaffold was characterized with SEM, EDX and FTIR techniques. The composite scaffold made from BCP and collagen conjugated with carbonate-apatite could be considered as a potential bone tissue engineering implant. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.