Preparation of nanostructure bioactive diopside scaffolds for bone tissue engineering by two near net shape manufacturing techniques

• Nanostructure diopside scaffolds were fabricated by two near net shape methods for the first time.
• The mean value of total porosity of the highly porous scaffolds were about 82–85%.
• The obtained compressive strength (0.98±0.11–1.33±0.13 MPa) was high enough for handling properties.
• The scaffolds had highly interconnected porosity (77–82%) with appropriate pore size (200–800 µm).

Diopside has been recently investigated as a bioceramic with high mechanical and bioactivity properties, excellent biocompatibility, and appropriate degradation rate. This study has focused on fabrication of novel nanostructure diopside scaffolds by two near net shape manufacturing techniques (space holder and gelcasting methods) and comparison of their properties. The obtained scaffolds were characterized by means of X-ray Diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Archimedes method, image analysis, and compression tests. The results demonstrated that both the space holder and gel casting methods led to fabrication of highly porous scaffolds with 82–85% total porosity. The prepared scaffolds were highly interconnected and had appropriate pore size (200–800 µm) and compressive strength (0.98±0.11–1.33±0.13 MPa). Therefore, the prepared nanostructure diopside scaffolds would be appropriate structure for use as bone substitute in bone tissue engineering.