Synthesis and characterization of porous bioactiveSiCtissue engineering scaffold

Abstract

Silicon carbide (SiC) is an inert material with excellent biocompatibility properties. A major issue that limits its use as a medical device is the difficult processing technique that requires hot pressing at a temperature (>2,000oC) and pressure (1,000–2,000 atm). In the present study, we developed a protocol to synthesize a porous SiC scaffold by pressing the powder at 50 MPa and heating at 900oC/2 hr. The surface of SiC was chemically modified by NaOH to facilitate sintering and induce bioactivity. Porous discs with 51.51 ± 3.17% porosity and interconnected pores in the size range from 1 to 1,000 μm were prepared using 40% PEG. The average compressive strength and Young's modulus of the scaffolds were 1.94 ± 0.70 and 169.2 ± 0.08 MPa, respectively. FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of biomimetic hydroxyapatite layer after 2 hr of immersion in simulated body fluid. The Ca/P ratio was dependent on the concentration of the silanol groups created on the material surface. Increasing the atomic % of silicon on the SiC surface from 33.27 ± 9.53% to 45.13 ± 4.74% resulted in a 76% increase in the osteocalcin expression by MC3T3‐E1 cells seeded on the material after 7 days. The cells colonized the entire thickness of the template and filled the pores with mineralized extracellular matrix after 14 days. Taken all together, the porous SiC scaffolds can serve as a bone graft for tissue reconstruction and cell delivery in trauma surgery.

Pre-oxidation induced in situ interface strengthening in biodegradable Zn/nano-SiC composites prepared by selective laser melting

“…Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have been proposed as a feasible approach to optimize the properties of metals. Among various reinforcements, SiC possesses outstanding mechanical performance and is also known as a kind of bioceramics with good biocompatibility and positive effect on osteoblasts [5] , [6] , [7] . Thus, it can be a potential candidate to improve the mechanical properties of Zn.…”

In vivo analysis of Porous Bioactive Silicon Carbide Scaffold for Craniofacial Bone Augmentation

“…This study investigated a porous, bioactive SiC disc and proved its capability to serve as a bone graft and tissue engineering scaffold in vitro [11]. In group 1, the graft material was completely resorbed and induced bone formation of the host cranial bone, which showed clinically thick morphology and was twice as thick as the non-operated bone histologically.…”

“…A previous study (El-Ghannam et al, 2020) [11] thoroughly explained SiC preparation and characterisation. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH, 20%) was used to prepare the SiC scaffolds.…”

“…Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and SiC powders (Beta 3C, US Research Nanomaterials, Inc., TX, USA) were combined at a ratio of 60:40. According to El-Ghannam et al (2020) [11], 20% NaOH surface treatment results in greater cell adhesion, expansion, and osteocalcin release. The porosity of the NaOH-treated SiC scaffolds was 51.51 ± 3.17%, with an average pore size of 187 ± 87µm.…”

“…This encouraged scientists to improve SiC surface qualities by either looking at improved production techniques or covering SIC with bioactive materials, such as bioactive glass. After 72 h of immersion in simulated bodily uid, the coating left Ca and P on the surface of the material [11]. More recently, NaOH was used to chemically alter the SIC surface to promote sintering and bioactivity [10].…”