Obtaining characterization and in vitro behavior of 3D multilayer ceramic scaffolds Ca2SiO4/Ca2P6O17/Ca2SiO4-XSr

Abstract

In this study, 3D multilayer scaffolds were fabricated by sol–gel and polymeric replication methods. The principal objective was to fabricate scaffolds based on a core of Ca₂SiO4/Ca₂P₆O₁₇ (C₂S/P₆) to obtain mechanical resistance following by external layers with composition Ca₂SiO₄ (C₂S) doped with several amount of SrCO₃ (Sr = 0–2.5 wt%) to generate modulated bioactivity.

This scaffold was characterized from the physical, chemical and mineralogical point of view. Finally, the effect of the dopant on the surface morphology and how it affects the bioactivity was carried out according to the ISO 23317.2017 standard.

The obtained scaffolds exhibited an open porosity of 80–90% and a maximum mechanical strength of 1.2 ± 0.1 MPa. The scaffolds containing Sr²⁺ demonstrated bioactivity that could be modulated according to the Sr content. The results revealed that bioactivity occurred only when the scaffolds were coated with outer layers of strontium. Scaffolds doped with 1 and 1.5 wt% Sr displayed bioactivity after 3 days in simulated body fluid (SBF), while the 2.5 wt% Sr sample did not show bioactivity at any time.