United Kingdom						                            
                            
						
 Research Article
												Comparative Characterisation of 3-D Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds Developed Via Replication of Synthetic Polymer Foams and Natural Marine Sponges 						
Author(s): E. Cunningham, N. Dunne, S. Clarke, Seong Ying Choi, G. Walker, R. Wilcox, R. E. Unger, F. Buchanan and C.J. KirkpatrickE. Cunningham, N. Dunne, S. Clarke, Seong Ying Choi, G. Walker, R. Wilcox, R. E. Unger, F. Buchanan and C.J. Kirkpatrick             
						
												
				 The production of complex inorganic forms, based on naturally occurring scaffolds offers an exciting avenue for the construction of a new generation of ceramic-based bone substitute scaffolds. The following study reports an investigation into the architecture (porosity, pore size distribution, pore interconnectivity and permeability), mechanical properties and cytotoxic response of hydroxyapatite bone substitutes produced using synthetic polymer foam and natural marine sponge performs. Infiltration of polyurethane foam (60 pores/in2) using a high solid content (80wt %), low viscosity (0.126Pas) hydroxyapatite slurry yielded 84-91% porous replica scaffolds with pore sizes ranging from 50?m - 1000?m (average pore size 577?m), 99.99% pore interconnectivity and a permeability value of 46.4 x10-10m2. Infiltration of the natural marine sponge, Spongia agaricina , yielded scaffolds with 56- .. Read More»
				  
												DOI:
												 10.4172/2157-7552.S1-001 
																	  
Journal of Tissue Science and Engineering received 807 citations as per Google Scholar report