Material and Mechanical Properties of Tricalcium Phosphate-Based (TCP) Scaffolds Available to Purchase

Bioactive ceramic materials like tricalcium phosphates (TCP) have been emerging as alternative and valid approaches to the current therapies of bone scaffolding to target major diseases such as fracture healing, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis [1]. These scaffolds can induce bone formation by acting as carriers or guides for enhanced bone regeneration by cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Previous studies have shown that both material and architectural characteristics influence the mechanical strength of bone scaffolds and their biological functionality [2]. In this study, the physical and mechanical properties of three sets of TCP scaffolds were analyzed. The physical properties that were evaluated included volume, mass, density and porosity. The scaffold compressive mechanical properties were evaluated in air at room temperature and in saline at 37°C.