Novel bioactive and biocompatible alumina-wollastonite porous constructs mimicking physical properties of human cortical bone

A new procedure for the bioactivation of alumina-based porous ceramic constructs was introduced. The constructs were built with the aim of mimicking the structural and mechanical properties of the human cortical bone. Bioactivation was achieved by adding wollastonite and acidic surface treatment (piranha solution). Structural studies (SEM, CAT) confirmed that adequate pore size and interconnectivity were obtained. Uniaxial compression tests showed that the values of Young's moduli and compressive strength were reduced, from 5 to 1 GPa, and from 45 to 15 MPa, respectively, as the wollastonite content increased from 0 to 40 wt.%. Proliferative, histological and fluorescence results confirmed that cell proliferation rate of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were significantly enhanced by increasing wollastonite content. No cytotoxic effect was observed. In summary, the fabricated bioceramics exhibited suggestive structural and mechanical properties and they could be useful for the practical bone tissue engineering applications without any adverse biological effects.