Mechanical and in vitro performance of 13–93 bioactive glass scaffolds prepared by a polymer foam replication technique

A polymer foam replication technique was used to prepare porous scaffolds of 13–93 bioactive glass with a microstructure similar to that of human trabecular bone. The scaffolds, with a porosity of 85 ± 2% and pore size of 100–500 μm, had a compressive strength of 11 ± 1 MPa, and an elastic modulus of 3.0 ± 0.5 GPa, approximately equal to the highest values reported for human trabecular bone. The strength was also considerably higher than the values reported for polymeric, bioactive glass–ceramic and hydroxyapatite constructs prepared by the same technique and with the equivalent level of porosity. The in vitro bioactivity of the scaffolds was observed by the conversion of the glass surface to a nanostructured hydroxyapatite layer within 7 days in simulated body fluid at 37 °C. Protein and MTT assays of in vitro cell cultures showed an excellent ability of the scaffolds to support the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblastic cells, both on the surface and in the interior of the porous constructs. Scanning electron microscopy showed cells with a closely adhering, well-spread morphology and a continuous increase in cell density on the scaffolds during 6 days of culture. The results indicate that the 13–93 bioactive glass scaffolds could be applied to bone repair and regeneration.