Synthesis and Characterization of Porous Forsterite Ceramics with Prospective Tissue Engineering Applications
Andrada Elena Alecu,
Gabriel-Costin Balaceanu,
Adrian Ionut Nicoara,
Ionela Andreea Neacsu,
Cristina Busuioc
Affiliations
Andrada Elena Alecu
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Gabriel-Costin Balaceanu
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Adrian Ionut Nicoara
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Ionela Andreea Neacsu
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Cristina Busuioc
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Due to the urgent need to develop and improve biomaterials, the present article proposes a new strategy to obtain porous scaffolds based on forsterite (Mg2SiO4) for bone tissue regeneration. The main objective is to restore and improve bone function, providing a stable environment for regeneration. The usage of magnesium silicate relies on its mechanical properties being superior to hydroxyapatite and, in general, to calcium phosphates, as well as its high biocompatibility, and antibacterial properties. Mg2SiO4 powder was obtained using the sol-gel method, which was calcinated at 800 °C for 2 h; then, part of the powder was further used to make porous ceramics by mixing it with a porogenic agent (e.g., sucrose). The raw ceramic bodies were subjected to two sintering treatments, at 1250 or 1320 °C, and the characterization results were discussed comparatively. The porogenic agent did not influence the identified phases or the samples’ crystallinity and was efficiently removed during the heat treatment. Moreover, the effect of the porogenic agent no longer seems significant after sintering at 1250 °C; the difference in porosity between the two ceramics was negligible. When analysing the in vitro cytotoxicity of the samples, the ones that were porous and treated at 1320 °C showed slightly better cell viability, with the cells appearing to adhere more easily to their surface.
