Nanostructure effects on the bioactivity of forsterite bioceramic

Recently, forsterite (Mg2SiO4) has been introduced as a possible bioceramics due to its good biocompatibility. It has a better bending strength and fracture toughness than those of commercially available hydroxyapatite ceramics. In this study, nanostructure effects on the bioactivity of forsterite powder were investigated. For synthesizing forsterite powder, talc and magnesium carbonate powders were mechanically activated for various times. Then, the prepared powders were mixed with ammonium chloride (as a catalyst) and annealed at different temperatures. For bioactivity evaluation, the obtained forsterite powders were pressed in the form of tablets and then immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF). The results showed that nanostructure forsterite powder with crystallite size of about 31 nm, unlike micrometer-sized forsterite, possessed apatite formation ability and its bioactivity, biocompatibility, and good mechanical properties make it a suitable candidate for load bearing application in bone implant materials and open new horizons in tissue engineering. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.