Bioactive porous bone scaffold coated with biphasic calcium phosphates

Calcium phosphates (CaP) were coated on a zirconia (ZrO2) porous scaffold for hard tissue applications. The ZrO2 porous body, intended to be a load-bearing part, was fabricated by a polymeric foam reticulate method. On the framework, Cal? layers were deposited by a powder slurry method to induce bioactivity and osteoconductivity. The compositions of the coating layers were varied to be biphasic, i. e., hydroxyapatite (HA) with tricalcium. phosphate (TCP) and fluorapatite (FA). The coated scaffolds had a porosity of similar to 90 % and pore size of similar to500-600 mum. The compressive strength of the coated ZrO2 scaffolds was similar to5 MPa, which was similar to7 times higher than those of pure HA. The coating layers had a thickness of similar to30 mum. and was firmly adhered to the substrate. The adhesive strength of the coating layer was similar to20-25 MPa. Human osteoblast-like cells grew and proliferated well on the coated scaffolds. The differentiation of the cells on the coated scaffolds was higher than those on pure ZrO2 scaffold, confirming improved cell activity via the calcium phosphate coatings.