One of the most important factors in tissue engineering is the three-dimensional cells growth in porous support known by scaffolds. The scaffolds guide the cellular growth and facilitate the tissue formation and functional organs. Bone cements have been developed for biomedical applications for a decade approximately. This kind of cement can be prepared mixing a calcium phosphate salt with aqueous solution forming a paste that can react at body temperature generating a hydroxyapatite precipitated. The aim of this work was to use α-TCP (α-tricalcium phosphate) cement in order to obtain such scaffolds, with the aid of paraffin spheres as pores generators. These spheres were produced by suspension in a aqueous solution of polyvinylalcohol (PVA) and sodium sulphate (Na2SO4). The amount of each one of the components was related to the size of the formed spheres. The extraction of the paraphyn from the scaffolds was also evaluated. The porosity of the scaffolds produced with paraffin spheres was observed by means of scanning electron microscopy, regarding their size, shape, and interconnectivity, which are important properties of the bone cellular growth process.
tricalcium phosphate cement; scaffolds; paraffin spheres
