Publication
Establishment of porous bioceramic hollow and non-hollow microspheres for bone regeneration via ceramic foam methodology
| Summary: | Recent demographic changes and lifestyle disorders have heightened interest in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, particularly for bone regeneration therapies addressing musculoskeletal disorders. Effective treatments require biocompatible, bioactive materials for structured healing. This study developed synthetic bone substitutes as porous bioceramic microspheres—hollow (core‒shell) and non-hollow—for bone defect repair and customizable drug delivery. Using ceramic foam injection, Pluronic F-127 acted as a foaming agent within a suspension of hydroxyapatite and sodium alginate. Key parameters such as foaming stability, porosity, mechanical properties, and foam rheology were examined under varying hydroxyapatite concentrations to optimize injectability. The optimized formulation produced uniform hollow (1.2 ± 0.1 mm) and non-hollow (1.8 ± 0.2 mm) microspheres. Characterization via X-ray diffraction confirmed pure-phase hydroxyapatite, while scanning electron microscopy revealed concentric hollow cores, high macroporosity, and interconnected pores exceeding 70%, crucial for osteointegration and drug encapsulation. Both microsphere types achieved over 60% total porosity, enhancing surface area for drug release. This study presents an efficient, cost-effective method for producing customized bioceramic microspheres with high potential for advanced bone tissue regeneration. |
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| Main Authors: | Rodrigues, Miguel A. |
| Other Authors: | Reis, Joana; Abreu, António; Leal, Catarina; Fernandes, Susete N.; Borges, João P.; Santos, José D.; Lopes, Maria A. |
| Subject: | bone regeneration foam injection hollow non-hollow porous bioceramic microspheres Ceramics and Composites Materials Chemistry |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Document type: | article |
| Access type: | open access |
| Associated institution: | Universidade Nova de Lisboa |
| Language: | English |
| Origin: | Repositório Institucional da UNL |
| Summary: | Recent demographic changes and lifestyle disorders have heightened interest in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, particularly for bone regeneration therapies addressing musculoskeletal disorders. Effective treatments require biocompatible, bioactive materials for structured healing. This study developed synthetic bone substitutes as porous bioceramic microspheres—hollow (core‒shell) and non-hollow—for bone defect repair and customizable drug delivery. Using ceramic foam injection, Pluronic F-127 acted as a foaming agent within a suspension of hydroxyapatite and sodium alginate. Key parameters such as foaming stability, porosity, mechanical properties, and foam rheology were examined under varying hydroxyapatite concentrations to optimize injectability. The optimized formulation produced uniform hollow (1.2 ± 0.1 mm) and non-hollow (1.8 ± 0.2 mm) microspheres. Characterization via X-ray diffraction confirmed pure-phase hydroxyapatite, while scanning electron microscopy revealed concentric hollow cores, high macroporosity, and interconnected pores exceeding 70%, crucial for osteointegration and drug encapsulation. Both microsphere types achieved over 60% total porosity, enhancing surface area for drug release. This study presents an efficient, cost-effective method for producing customized bioceramic microspheres with high potential for advanced bone tissue regeneration. |
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