Fabrication of novel kaolin-reinforced hydroxyapatite scaffolds with robust compressive strengths for bone regeneration

Abstract

In this study, hydroxyapatite (HAp) microparticles obtained from animal bones were synthesized, and for the first time, HAp was reinforced with beneficiated kaolin using the sol-gel route to improve the mechano-biological properties of the bioceramic materials. The non-reinforced HAp as well as the reinforced samples (K-HAp) were sintered at 900, 1000 and 1100 °C to consolidate the mixture and detailed physico-chemical and mechanical characterizations was conducted. In-vitro experiments in phosphate buffer saline and simulated body fluid were used to confirm the degradability and compatibility of the HAp-derived bioceramic materials, respectively. XRD signatures showed that a dominant phase of hydroxyapatite was formed at all sintering temperatures (900, 1000, 1100 °C). The calcium to phosphate ratio (Ca/P) of the K-HAp-900 sample was approximately 1.67, which is the Ca/P ratio for stoichiometric …