Methods: Commercial hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate and biphasic calcium phosphate discs were donated by Ceramisys Ltd. (Sheffield, UK). These were analysed by routine methods (e.g. XRD) and desktop μCT (μCT 40, Scanco Medical AG, Basserdorf, Switzerland) at resolutions of 16μm.
Results: Virtually all of the parameters investigated were significantly different between the three materials. HA showed the greatest porosity (62%), internal surface area (7.3mm2/mm3), average pore diameter (268μm), pore interconnectivity (i.e. lowest tortuosity), total % pore connectivity (99.5%) and the lowest average structural thickness. BCP showed the lowest porosity (54%), internal surface area (6.1mm2/mm3), pore interconnectivity, total % pore connectivity (98.5%), an intermediate average pore diameter (247μm) and the greatest average structural thickness. TCP showed an intermediate porosity (58%), internal surface area (6.7mm2/mm3), pore interconnectivity, total % pore connectivity (99.4%), average structural thickness and the lowest average pore diameters (225μm).
Conclusion: The data demonstrated that all of the scaffolds were suitable for bone tissue engineering with respect to pore size and interconnectivity. Structurally, HA appeared best suited to in vitro cell culture, although as a consequence it may have less mechanical strength relative to other ceramics investigated.
Acknowledgements: The Author gratefully acknowledges funding from EPSRC and the support of Ceramisys. The work was performed as part of the EXPERTISSUES network of excellence.