Preparation of the reticulated hydroxyapatite ceramics using carbon-coated polymeric sponge with elongated pores as a novel template

This paper proposes a novel, simple way to improve the compressive strength of reticulated porous hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramics using carbon-coated polymeric sponges with elongated pores as a novel template. This template allowed samples to have two interconnected pore networks with a preferential orientation, in which an addition pore network was newly formed by removing the carbon-coated polymeric struts, while preserving the pre-existing pore network. The compressive strength of the sample was as high as 2.9 +/- 0.3 MPa with a porosity of 76% when tested parallel to the direction of pore elongation. In addition, the in vitro cell test using a pre-osteoblast cell line revealed the samples to have good biocompatibility. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.