Scientific papers
A significant portion of research within the orthopedic and maxillofacial fields is devoted to advancing bioactive 3D scaffolds. This involves the exploration of highly resorbable compounds that can stimulate cell activity and promote bone regeneration. Given the phosphocalcic nature of bone mineral, the use of amorphous calcium phosphates (ACPs) is considered a viable approach to achieving these objectives. However, due to their metastable property, these compounds have been infrequently utilized in bulk form thus far.
In this study, we employed an unconventional "cold sintering" method based on ultrafast low-pressure room temperature compaction to effectively consolidate ACP pellets while maintaining their amorphous structure (confirmed by XRD). Additional spectroscopic analyses (FTIR, Raman, solid-state NMR) and thermal analyses indicated slight physicochemical modifications in the initial powder, involving a partial loss of water and localized changes in the HPO42- ion environment.
Furthermore, the creation of an open porous structure, particularly suitable for non-load bearing bone defects, was observed. Notably, the resulting pellets demonstrated adequate mechanical strength, enabling ease of manipulation, surgical placement, and potential cutting/reshaping in the operating room. Three-dimensional porous scaffolds made from cold-sintered reactive ACP, fabricated through this low-energy, ultrafast consolidation process, exhibit promising potential for the development of highly bioactive and customizable biomaterials for bone regeneration. Additionally, they allow for combinations with various thermosensitive drugs.
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