Toward Strong and Tough Glass and Ceramic Scaffolds for Bone Repair

Editor(s)

Ritterbusch, Joern

Abstract

The need for implants to repair large bone defects is driving the development of porous synthetic scaffolds with the requisite mechanical strength and toughness in vivo. Recent developments in the use of design principles and novel fabrication technologies are paving the way to create synthetic scaffolds with promising potential for reconstituting bone in load-bearing sites. Here, the state of the art in the design and fabrication of bioactive glass and ceramic scaffolds that have improved mechanical properties for structural bone repair is reviewed. Scaffolds with anisotropic and periodic structures can be prepared with compressive strengths comparable to human cortical bone (100−150 MPa), while scaffolds with an isotropic structure typically have strengths in the range of trabecular bone (2−12 MPa). However, the mechanical response of bioactive glass and ceramic scaffolds in multiple loading modes such as flexure and torsion—as well as their mechanical reliability, fracture toughness, and fatigue resistance—has received little attention. Inspired by the designs of natural materials such as cortical bone and nacre, glass-ceramic and inorganic/polymer composite scaffolds created with extrinsic toughening mechanisms are showing potential for both high strength and mechanical reliability. Future research should include improved designs that provide strong scaffolds with microstructures conducive to bone ingrowth, and evaluation of these scaffolds in large animal models for eventual translation into clinical applications.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Bioactive Glass; Ceramics; Porous Scaffolds; Bone Repair; Tissue Engineering; Mechanical Strength

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1616-301X

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2013

Link to Full Text

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