FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE APATITE-FIBER SCAFFOLDS WITH ENHANCED MECHANICAL PROPERTY USING APATITE GELS AS A SINTERING AGENT

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We have successfully fabricated the apatite-fiber scaffolds (AFS) that enable three-dimensionally cell culture. The AFS with large pores of ~250μm and micro pores of about 5μm were fabricated by firing the compacts consisting of the single-crystal apatite fibers and the carbon beads with the sizes of 150μm. In order to enhance the mechanical properties of the scaffolds, we tried to modify the process of AFS fabrication.The apatite gels were in situ precipitated on the apatite fiber via traditional wet process of hydroxyapatite. We fabricated the AFS with enhanced mechanical property using the apatite fibers coated with apatite gels. Actually, the results of compressive strength test showed that the energy for deformation of AFS with apatite gels was higher than that of AFS without apatite gels. We concluded that the apatite gel is effective to the enhancement of mechanical properties of the AFS.