Preparation of Polyphosphate Porous Bioceramics and <I>in vitro</I> Cytocompatibility

The porous ceramics were prepared by the foam impregnation technology using Al2O3-MgO-P2O5 as binder. Porous morphology, crystalline phase, porosity, and mechanical property were investigated by using scaning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Archimedes drainage method, and compression tests. It was found that Al2O3-MgO-P2O5 phosphate promoted the sintering of ceramics, and improved coating of ceramic slurry over the foams uniformly. The obtained ceramics have connective, uniform pore structures with macro-pores of about 100−500μm in diameter and micro-pores of about 3μm in diameter. Their average porosity and compressive strength were 85.9%±1.6% and (1.04±0.15) MPa respectively. Although sintered porous ceramics were polyphos- phates composed of HA, β-Ca2P2O7 and a few phases including Al and Mg. They had no cytotoxicity and provoked the proliferation and differentiation of marrow stromal stem cells in vitro. Thus it can be concluded that this kind of porous ceramics has good cellular affinity and cytocompatibility.