Application of dividing wall column in azeotropic distillation with intermediate boiling-point heteroazeotrope: Simulation and optimization

Effective scaffolds for bone-tissue-engineering are those that combine adequate mechanical and chemical performance with osseointegrative, angiogenetic and anti-bacterial modes of bioactivity. To address these requirements via a combined approach, we additively manufactured square strut scaffolds by robocasting precipitation-derived strontium/copper co-substituted diopside. Microstructure, mechanical performance, bioactivity, biocompatibility, and antibacterial activity were examined. The results show that the presence of strontium and copper in the diopside lattice reduces the grain size and increases the density of the ceramics. The compressive strength, hardness, and fracture toughness of the diopside showed improvement, attributed to a finer microstructure and improved sintering. Scaffolds had excellent compressive strength with a high porosity (68-72 %), which is attributed to the structure of the stacked-square-struts. All materials showed good in vitro bioactivity and favorable proliferation of osteogenic sarcoma cells, while strontium/copper co-doped materials exhibited the strongest anti-Escherichia coli activity. We show that across multiple indicators this system offers pathways towards high-performance bone substitutes.

Automated summary

Effective scaffolds for bone-tissue-engineering should possess adequate mechanical and chemical performance, as well as osseointegrative, angiogenetic, and anti-bacterial modes of bioactivity. In this study, we used robocasting to additively manufacture square strut scaffolds made from strontium/copper co-substituted diopside. The scaffolds exhibited improved mechanical properties and showed excellent bioactivity and biocompatibility. The co-doped materials also demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity. These findings suggest that this system has great potential for developing high-performance bone substitutes.