Bio-inspired Ceramics: Promising Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

Three-dimensional scaffolds for bone tissue engineering should replicate bone architecture with hierarchical and interconnected pores distribution to promote neobone tissue ingrowth, blood vessel invasion and nutrient delivery. Ceramic scaffolds of silicon carbide (SiC) and pyrolyzed carbon (C), both obtained from plant precursors, present an abundant macro, meso and nanoscaled porosity, maintained from the natural structures. Obtaining of SiC and C scaffolds from wood of Entandrophragma cylindricum, macroalgae Laminaria ochroleuca and marsh plant Juncus maritimus and physicochemical characterization were carried out. Cells morphology, proliferation and osteogenic activity were successfully evaluated in all ceramic scaffolds with MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts up to 28 days.