NER: Porous Scaffolds Using Dendrimer Templated Bioceramic Nanopowders

Washington State University, Pullman WA

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract CTS-0103105 Susmita Bose, Et. Al, Washington State University This project will investigate the synthesis route for making nano-powders of calcium phosphate based ceramics. It will explore the possibility of dendrimer mediated synthesis of nano-powders of calcium phosphate based ceramics that can be used for making dense and porous bone grafts with improved mechanical properties. Among various ceramic materials, calcium phosphate based ceramics are of significant interest because of their excellent biocompatibility. However, the composition suffer from poor mechanical properties due to sintering. The sinterability issues of these and other calcium phosphate based compositions will be evaluated using nano-sized powders. It is believed that the higher surface area of the starting nano-powders will increase the sintering kinetics, and better sintering will improve mechanical properties. The nano-powders will be synthesized by using different dendrimers via sol-gel synthetic route. Preliminary cell proliferation tests will also be conducted with these bone grafts.