Porous hydroxyapatite – β-tricalcium phosphate ceramics produced from a rapid sol-gel process

Abstract Hydroxyapatite (HAp, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) is the major inorganic component of bones, with high bioactivity and biocompatibility, and pores in the 50–200 μm range can facilitate cell anchorage and proliferation. HAp was synthesised through a rapid sol-gel method, avoiding the usual long aging pr...

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Main Authors: Anna Bertocco, Marinélia Capela, Ana P. F. Caetano, Alessia Nito, Alessandra Quarta, Maria Paula Seabra, Robert C. Pullar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01253-2
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author Anna Bertocco
Marinélia Capela
Ana P. F. Caetano
Alessia Nito
Alessandra Quarta
Maria Paula Seabra
Robert C. Pullar
author_facet Anna Bertocco
Marinélia Capela
Ana P. F. Caetano
Alessia Nito
Alessandra Quarta
Maria Paula Seabra
Robert C. Pullar
author_sort Anna Bertocco
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Hydroxyapatite (HAp, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) is the major inorganic component of bones, with high bioactivity and biocompatibility, and pores in the 50–200 μm range can facilitate cell anchorage and proliferation. HAp was synthesised through a rapid sol-gel method, avoiding the usual long aging process typically required for sol-gel HAp. Acetate and nitrate precursor salts were compared, to produce bioceramics having different porosities induced via the addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) pore-forming agent. 3–10 wt% H2O2 was added, and the resulting bioceramics calcined at 400 and 700 °C. Microstructure, composition, specific surface area and macro/mesoporosity were analysed, and bioactivity and cytotoxicity/biocompatibility evaluated by immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) and MTT assays on MG63 osteoblast cell lines. When heated to 400 °C HAp was the only calcium phosphate phase present, but after heating to 700 °C they were a mixture of HAp and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP, Ca3(PO4)2). The bioceramics exhibit high bioactivity, crystallising HAp from SBF, and most were biocompatible, with cell viabilities of 110–139% for samples with 3 wt% H2O2 derived from nitrates, or from acetates heated to 700 °C. This is the first time that HAp-based bioceramics derived from a rapid sol-gel process have been produced with such induced porosity.
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spelling doaj-art-45b3762aa8cf4574a5b37274fc5969c82025-08-20T03:10:13ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-01253-2Porous hydroxyapatite – β-tricalcium phosphate ceramics produced from a rapid sol-gel processAnna Bertocco0Marinélia Capela1Ana P. F. Caetano2Alessia Nito3Alessandra Quarta4Maria Paula Seabra5Robert C. Pullar6Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi (DSMN), Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, Venezia MestreDepartment of Materials and Ceramic Engineering, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of AveiroDepartment of Materials and Ceramic Engineering, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of AveiroInstitute of Nanotechnology, CNR NANOTECInstitute of Nanotechnology, CNR NANOTECDepartment of Materials and Ceramic Engineering, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of AveiroDipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi (DSMN), Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, Venezia MestreAbstract Hydroxyapatite (HAp, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) is the major inorganic component of bones, with high bioactivity and biocompatibility, and pores in the 50–200 μm range can facilitate cell anchorage and proliferation. HAp was synthesised through a rapid sol-gel method, avoiding the usual long aging process typically required for sol-gel HAp. Acetate and nitrate precursor salts were compared, to produce bioceramics having different porosities induced via the addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) pore-forming agent. 3–10 wt% H2O2 was added, and the resulting bioceramics calcined at 400 and 700 °C. Microstructure, composition, specific surface area and macro/mesoporosity were analysed, and bioactivity and cytotoxicity/biocompatibility evaluated by immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) and MTT assays on MG63 osteoblast cell lines. When heated to 400 °C HAp was the only calcium phosphate phase present, but after heating to 700 °C they were a mixture of HAp and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP, Ca3(PO4)2). The bioceramics exhibit high bioactivity, crystallising HAp from SBF, and most were biocompatible, with cell viabilities of 110–139% for samples with 3 wt% H2O2 derived from nitrates, or from acetates heated to 700 °C. This is the first time that HAp-based bioceramics derived from a rapid sol-gel process have been produced with such induced porosity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01253-2HydroxyapatiteΒ-tricalcium phosphateRapid sol-gelPorous ceramicsBioceramicsBiomaterials
spellingShingle Anna Bertocco
Marinélia Capela
Ana P. F. Caetano
Alessia Nito
Alessandra Quarta
Maria Paula Seabra
Robert C. Pullar
Porous hydroxyapatite – β-tricalcium phosphate ceramics produced from a rapid sol-gel process
Scientific Reports
Hydroxyapatite
Β-tricalcium phosphate
Rapid sol-gel
Porous ceramics
Bioceramics
Biomaterials
title Porous hydroxyapatite – β-tricalcium phosphate ceramics produced from a rapid sol-gel process
title_full Porous hydroxyapatite – β-tricalcium phosphate ceramics produced from a rapid sol-gel process
title_fullStr Porous hydroxyapatite – β-tricalcium phosphate ceramics produced from a rapid sol-gel process
title_full_unstemmed Porous hydroxyapatite – β-tricalcium phosphate ceramics produced from a rapid sol-gel process
title_short Porous hydroxyapatite – β-tricalcium phosphate ceramics produced from a rapid sol-gel process
title_sort porous hydroxyapatite β tricalcium phosphate ceramics produced from a rapid sol gel process
topic Hydroxyapatite
Β-tricalcium phosphate
Rapid sol-gel
Porous ceramics
Bioceramics
Biomaterials
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01253-2
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