CHARACTERIZATION OF HIGHLY POROUS 63S BIOACTIVE GLASS SCAFFOLDS FABRICATED BY TWO FOAMING METHODS

Resorbable 3D macroporous nanostructure 638 bioactive glass scaffolds were fabricated using the two methods of direct foaming of bioactive glass sol and foaming glass slurry for tissue engineering applications. The scaffolds contained an interconnected pore network with macropore sizes in the range of 100 - 400 pm, which provided the potential for tissue ingrowth and vascularization in the human body. The mean values of compressive strength were in the ranges of 0.53 - 0.68 MPa and 0.8 - 0.92 MPa, respectively, for the scaffolds prepared by the first and second methods. The mean values of total and interconnected porosities were in the ranges of 88 - 93 % and 76- 86 %, respectively The highly porous and nanosized structure gave rise to a high specific surface area in the scaffolds which stimulated mineralization in the surrounding bones by enhancing bioreactions and leaching of ions from the surface, which facilitate bone repair and fixation. Finally, it was observed that the prepared scaffolds could satisify the criteria of an ideal scaffold for tissue engineering applications.