Porous carbonated hydroxyapatite-based scaffold using simple gas foaming method

In this work, snail shells were used as a calcium source in the synthesis of carbonated hydroxyapatite (CHAp) particles using a co-precipitation method. Then, the CHAp was further processed to produce a porous structure scaffold using a simple gas foaming method with H2O2 solution (30%) as a foaming agent, followed by densification at high temperature. Ratio of liquid H2O2 solution/CHAp solid was varied from 0.75/1, 1/1, and 1.25/1 ml/g. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the morphology of samples. Chemical structure and compositions were analyzed by a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). Crystallographic and phase identity of samples were evaluated using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD). XRD, FTIR and EDX results showed the CHAp successfully produced from snail shells. SEM analysis on CHAp morphology indicated that CHAp has a sphere-like grain with a size under 1 μm. Higher ratio of liquid H2O2 solution/CHAp solid brings bigger and richer macro-pores structure in the scaffold, yet microporosity seems to independent to this parameter. High-temperature treatment to densify the scaffold has no profound effect on purity of the final scaffold.