• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.331-337
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• 2010

A highly porous Biphasic Calcium Phosphate (BCP) scaffold was fabricated by the sponge replica method with a microwave sintering technique. The BCP scaffold had interconnected pores ranging from $80\;{\mu}m$ to $1000\;{\mu}m$, which were similar to natural cancellous bone. To enhance the mechanical properties of the porous scaffold, infiltration of polycaprolactone (PCL) was employed. The microstructure of the BCP scaffold was optimized using various volume percentages of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) for the infiltration process. PCL successfully infiltrated into the hollow space of the strut formed after the removal of the polymer sponge throughout the degassing and high pressure steps. The microstructure and material properties of the BCP scaffold (i.e., pore size, morphology of infiltrated and coated PCL, compressive strength, and porosity) were evaluated. When a 30 vol% of PMMA was used, the PCL-BCP scaffold showed the highest compressive strength. The compressive strength values of the BCP and PCL-BCP scaffolds were approximately 1.3 and 2MPa, respectively. After the PCL infiltration process, the porosity of the PCL-BCP scaffold decreased slightly to 86%, whereas that of the BCP scaffold was 86%. The number of pores in the $10\;{\mu}m$ to $20\;{\mu}m$ rage, which represent the pore channel inside of the strut, significantly decreased. The in-vitro study confirmed that the PCL-infiltrated BCP scaffold showed comparable cell viability without any cytotoxic behavior.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.704-709
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• 2014

In this study, we fabricated a novel micro porous hybrid scaffold of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and a polylectrolyte complex (PEC) of chitosan (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA). The fabrication process included loading of CS-HA PEC in a bare BCP scaffold followed by lypophilization. SEM observation and porosimetry revealed that the scaffold was full of micro and macro pores with total porosity of more than 60 % and pore size in the range of $20{\sim}200{\mu}m$. The composite scaffold was mechanically stronger than the bare BCP scaffold and was significantly stronger than the CS-HA PEC polymer scaffold. Bone morphogenetic growth factor (BMP-2) was immobilized in CS-HA PEC in order to integrate the osteoinductive potentiality required for osteogenesis. The BCP frame, prepared by sponge replica, worked as a physical barrier that prolonged the BMP-2 release significantly. The preliminary biocompatibility data show improved biological performance of the BMP-2 immobilized hybrid scaffold in the presence of rabbit bone marrow stem cells (rBMSC).

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.310-318
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• 2014

In this experiment, a highly porous scaffold of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) was prepared using the spongereplica method. The BCP scaffold was coated with 58S bioactive glass (BG) and sintered for a second time. The resulting scaffold was coated with gelatin (Gel) and cross-linked with [3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide] and N-Hydroxysuccinamide (EDC-NHS). The initial average pore size of the scaffold ranged from 300 to $700{\mu}m$, with more than 85 % porosity. The coating of BG and Gel had a significant effect on the scaffold-pore size, decreasing scaffold porosity while increasing mechanical strength. The material and surface properties were evaluated by means of several experiments involving scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT assay and confocal imaging of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells cultured in vitro. Three types of scaffold (BCP, BCP-BG and BCP-BG-Gel) were implanted in a rat skull for in vivo evaluation. After 8 weeks of implantation, bone regeneration occurred in all three types of sample. Interestingly, regeneration was found to be greater (geometrically and physiologically) for neat BCP scaffolds than for two other kinds of composite scaffolds. However, the other two types of scaffolds were still better than the control (i.e., defect without treatment).

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.418-422
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• 2010

As a starting material, BCP (biphasic calcium phosphate) nano powder was synthesized by a hydrothermal microwave-assisted process. A highly porous BCP scaffold was fabricated by the sponge replica method using 60 ppi (pore per inch) of polyurethane sponge. The BCP scaffold had interconnected pores ranging from $100\;{\mu}m$ to $1000\;{\mu}m$, which were similar to natural cancellous bone. To realize the antibacterial property, a microwave-assisted nano Ag spot coating process was used. The morphology and distribution of nano Ag particles were different depending on the coating conditions, such as concentration of the $AgNO_3$ solution, microwave irradiation times, etc. With an increased microwave irradiation time, the amount of coated nano Ag particles increased. The surface of the BCP scaffold was totally covered with nano Ag particles homogeneously at 20 seconds of microwave irradiation time when 0.6 g of $AgNO_3$ was used. With an increased amount of $AgNO_3$ and irradiation time, the size of the coated particles increased. Antibacterial activities of the solution extracted from the Ag-coated BCP scaffold were examined against gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). When 0.6 g of $AgNO_3$ was used for coating the Ag-coated scaffold, it showed higher antibacterial activities than that of the Ag-coated scaffold using 0.8 g of $AgNO_3$.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.43.1-43.1
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• 2010

조직공학의 중요한 요소로 작용하는 scaffold는 여러 가지 필수적인 조건들을 만족시켜야 한다. 대표적인 특징들로는 (1)생분해성 및 비독성, (2)넓은 표면적을 갖는 상호 연결된 내부 다공성 구조, (3)구조적 안정성, (4)세포부착 기질의 제공, (5)낮은 면역 반응성, (6)혈전 형성 억제, (7)친수성, (8)생체 기능성 등을 들 수 있다. 이러한 scaffold가 갖추어야 할 특성 중에서 세포 부착 기질 제공을 위하여 scaffold에 표면 개질을 통한 기능기를 도입하였다. 본 연구에서는 BCP scaffold의 구조적 안정성 부여를 위하여 PCL(polycaprolactone)을 infiltration 하였다. PCL은 소수성의 특징을 갖고 있어 세포와 상호작용 할 수 있는 생물학적 반응기가 없기 때문에 세포와의 친화성이 떨어진다. 세포의 친화성을 높여주기 위해 실리콘의 전구체인 TEOS(tetraethly orthosilicate)를 코팅하고, 그 위에 카복실기(carboxylic acid group)를 도입하였다. 또한 세포의 고정화를 높여주기 위해 fibronectin을 코팅하여 BCP/PCL scaffold의 세포 친화성을 높여주었다. 이와 같이 제조된 고기능성 BCP/PCL scaffold의 내부 구조와 특성을 Micro-CT로 확인하였고, 또한 실리콘 코팅 여부를 확인하기 위하여 SEM-EDS를 통해 관찰하였으며, FT-IR 관찰을 통해 카복실기 도입 여부를 확인 하였다. 또한 생체적합성 평가를 위해 MTT assay, 조골세포의 부착에 미치는 영향을 관찰하기 위해 SEM, 조골세포의 유전자 발현에 미치는 영향을 관찰하기 위해 RT-PCR을 통해 확인 하였다.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.35.2-35.2
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• 2011

In this study, hyaluronic acid (HyA) - Gelatin (Gel) hydrogels were prepared at ratio of 15:85 with the goal of obtaining a high uniform porosity and porous biocompatibility scaffold for bone tissue engineering applications. In order to develop a proper scaffold for bone implant application, a HyA-Gel hydrogel loaded in sponge Biphasic Calcium Phosphate (BCP) was prepared. To assay the cytocompatibility and cell behavior on the HyA-Gel hydrogel and HyA-Gel/BCP scaffold, cell attachment and spreading of MSCs seeded on the scaffolds were studied. An invivo study was performed for HyA-Gel/BCP scaffolds after 1 and 3 months implantation. Our results provide a novel and simple method to obtain an adequate scaffold for osteoblast cells and indicate that HyA-Gel hydrogel and HyA-Gel/BCP scaffold could be a good candidate for bone tissue engineering scaffolds.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.1153-1159
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• 2015

Recently, synthetic biopolymers and bioceramics such as poly (${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone)(PCL), hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, biphasic calcium phosphate(BCP), and zirconia have been used as substrates to generate various tissues or organs in tissue engineering. Thus, the purpose of this study was the characterization of $ZrO_2$/BCP/PCL(ZBP) scaffold for bone tissue regeneration. Based on the result of single-line test, blended 3D ZBP scaffolds with fully interconnected pores and new complex pore pattern of $45^{\circ}+135^{\circ}$-type and staggered-type were successfully fabricated using a polymer deposition system. Furthermore, the effect of ZBP scaffold on mechanical property was analyzed. In addition, in vitro cell interaction of ZBP scaffold on MG63 cells was evaluated using a cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.392-400
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• 2010

The electrospinning process was established as a promising method to fabricate nano and micro-textured scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. A BCP-loaded PCL micro-textured scaffold thus can be a viable option. The biocompatibility as well as the mechanical properties of such scaffold materials should be optimized for this purpose. In this study, a composite scaffold of poly ($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL)-biphase calcium phosphate (BCP) was successfully fabricated by electrospinning. EDS and XRD data show successful loading of BCP nano particles in the PCL fibers. Morphological characterization of fibers shows that with a higher loaded BCP content the fiber surface was rougher and the diameter was approximately 1 to 7 ${\mu}m$. Tensile modulus and ultimate tensile stress reached their highest values in the PCL- 10 wt% BCP composite. When content of nano ceramic particles was low, they were dispersed in the fibers as reinforcements for the polymer matrix. However, at a high content of ceramic particles, the particles tend to agglomerate and lead to decreasing tensile modulus and ultimate stress of the PCL-BCP composite mats. Therefore, the use of nano BCP content for distribution in fiber polymer using BCP for reinforcement is limited. Tensile strain decreased with increasing content of BCP loading. From in vitro study using MG-63 osteoblast cells and L-929 fibroblast like cells, it was confirmed that electrospun PCL-BCP composite mats were biocompatible and that spreading behavior was good. As BCP content increased, the area of cell spreading on the surface of the mats also increased. Cells showed the best adherence on the surface of composite mats at 50 wt% BCP for both L-929 fibroblast-like cells and MG-63 osteoblast cell. PCL- BCP composites are a promising material for application in bone scaffolds.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.865-871
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• 2016

In recent years, traditional scaffold fabrication techniques such as gas foaming, salt leaching, sponge replica, and freeze casting in tissue engineering have significantly limited sufficient mechanical property and cell interaction effect due to only random pores. Fused deposition modeling is the most apposite technology for fabricating the 3D scaffolds using the polymeric materials in tissue engineering application. In this study, 3D slurry mould was fabricated with a blended biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP)/Silica/Alginic acid sodium salt slurry in PCL mould and heated for two hours at $100^{\circ}C$ to harden the blended slurry. 3D dual-pore BCP/Silica scaffold, composed of macro pores interconnected with micro pores, was successfully fabricated by sintering at furnace of $1100^{\circ}C$. Surface morphology and 3D shape of dual-pore BCP/Silica scaffold from scanning electron microscopy were observed. Also, the mechanical properties of 3D BCP/Silica scaffold, according to blending ratio of alginic acid sodium salt, were evaluated through compression test.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.44.2-44.2
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• 2009

BCP powder was synthesized using microwave hydrothermal process with mixed calcium hydroxide and phosphoric acid. After using replica method, porous BCP scaffold was fabricated. PU (Poly Urethane) was used as the fugitive skeleton to fabricate the porous scaffold. BCP powder was mixed in PVB (Polyvinyl butyral) and ethanol solution and then applied to the PU foam by dip coating. After several times of coating and the subsequent oven drying the coated PU foam was burnt out at $750^{\circ}C$ at air to remove the PU. The resulting networked porous composites were sintered at $1250^{\circ}C$, $1300^{\circ}C$ and $1350^{\circ}C$ in microwave furnace for 30 minutes. Material properties of the porous bodies like compressive strength and porosity were investigated. Detailed microstructure of the BCP porous body was characterized by SEM and XRD and TEM techniques. In our experiments, the relationship between mechanical property and viscosity of powder, sintering temperature was investigated.