Ceramic TiO2-foams:: characterisation of a potential scaffold

The Schwartzwalder process was chosen for the production of ceramic TiO2 scaffolds and showed a fully open structure with a permeability for water of 39%. The window sizes were 445 mum (45 ppi foams) and 380 pm for the 60 ppi foams. The porosity of all foams was above 78% (n = 8). It was shown that scaffolds can be produced with defined pore sizes, shape and architecture, which is a requirement for scaffold production. The macro- and microarchitecture was reproducible. Hence a reproducible ceramic scaffold processing method has been established. The interconnectivity of the pores in the scaffold was tested with a novel method. For the tests a new device was constructed where the permeability was linked to the degree of interconnectivity. Results from the permeability measurements in the mercury intrusion meter and permeability tester show that increasing pore size increases the rate of permeability. The tortuosity, which was measured in the mercury intrusion meter, was several factors higher for 60 ppi foams compared to 45 ppi and therefore also understates the lower permeability. An initial cell culture test showed that fibroblasts adhere on the foam's surface. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.