Obtenção e caracterização de scaffolds de hidroxiapatita a partir do método Sol-Gel.

Abstract

Porous bioceramics are used to provide location where the bone tissue can grow and biologically fixing the implant. Hydroxyapatite [HA, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] is a calcium phosphate which has received considerable attention over the past two decades as an implant material. Due to its naturally occurring in bone tissue, the calcium phosphate has good biocompatibility and osteoconductive properties, making it one of the most promising biomaterials in the manufacture of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. The objective of this work was the development and optimization of porous three-dimensional structures composed of HA, combining sol-gel method with the replica of a polyurethane foam, allowing interconnectivity and scattered distribution of pores. The developed scaffolds were characterized by Fourier Transform in the Infrared Region (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG), Porosity Tests and Compression Tests. The FTIR results showed the characteristic bands of the hydroxyapatite. The XRD technique revealed the presence of a crystalline phase belonging to hydroxyapatite (97,5%), and to a lesser extent the α-Tricalcium Phosphate (2,5%). Analysis by SEM revealed scaffolds with interconnected pores which had sizes ranging from 50μm to 200μm and EDS detected the presence of specific chemical elements of hydroxyapatite such as Calcium and Phosphorus. TG results allowed to confirm that the temperature curves used in the sintering process, is effective for burning of the sponge, yielding only an inorganic phase of apatite. The scaffolds showed a porosity of about 75% and compressive moduli ranging from 3.13 to 4.86 MPa. Based on these results, it was possible to produce scaffolds of HA by Sol-Gel method in combination with replica of a polyurethane foam, with attributes for bone regeneration.