Novel Porous Forsterite Ceramics Biocompatibility and Bioactivity Evaluation

This study is aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility and bioactivity of some new porous forsterite ceramics (FCs) produced from high-purity nano forsterite powder, synthesized by an original sol-gel method, which was subjected to pressing into pellets, by using a poly vinyl alcohol solution as a binding component. Then, the raw pellets were sintered at 1200 �C, 1300 �C, 1400 �C and 1450 �C. The obtained four forsterite ceramics, FC-1200, FC-1300, FC-1400 and FC-1450, were fully characterized by density, porosity and shrinkage measurements. The forsterite ceramics exhibited excellent biocompatibility determined by an in vitro cell viability assay, such as MTT test. Furthermore, the in vitro bioactivity test was performed by immersing the forsterite ceramics into simulated body fluid (SBF) and examining the hydroxyapatite (HAP) formation on forsterite ceramics, as evidenced by XRD, FTIR, SEM with EDX. Moreover, the relationship between porous structure and bioactivity of forsterite ceramics in SBF as well as the performance of FC in a cell culture was evaluated. The findings strongly recommend these forsterite ceramics for biomedical applications, as potential bone substitutes.