Structure design and manufacturing of layered bioceramic scaffolds for load-bearing bone reconstruction.

Bioceramic scaffolds with desired bone regeneration functions have the potential to become real alternatives to autologous bone grafts for reconstruction of load-bearing and critical-sized segmental bone defects. The aim of this paper was to develop a layered scaffold structure that has the biodegradable function of common monolithic scaffolds and adequate mechanical function for surgical fixing and after surgery support. The exemplary case of this study is assumed to be a large-segment tibia or femur bone repair. The layered scaffold structure consists of a macro porous hydroxyapatite-wollastonite layer and a strong dense zirconia matrix dense layer. The bio-functional scaffold layer with interconnected freeze-dried porous structures shows excellent apatite formation, cell attachment, and cell proliferation capabilities. The mechanical functional layer provides a bending strength matching that of the compact bone.