Freeze-casting of biomimetic apatites for the development of scaffolds

Important problems such as osteoporosis, bone fracture and bone remodeling currently remain to be solved through the design of bone implants. Several techniques have been experimented to realize porous scaffolds characterized by a homogeneous structure with isotropic and or cellular porosity. Freeze-casting can be exploited to develop scaffolds with wide anisotropic channels like morphology (1), improving the load-bearing properties and the cell in-growth. Gelatin as a proteic component covering the ceramic struts has been proven to improve the mechanical performance of scaffolds. Strontium (Sr), which is present in bone mineral, is known to be an-antiosteoporotic agent and improves the mechanical properties of scaffolds and bone (2). The above factors have been tested to develop porous scaffolds with improved mechanical properties