| abstract |
A relic process is used to produce bioresorbable ceramic scaffolds that can be used for in vitro or in vivo growth of human or animal tissue such as bone or cartilage. The process involves impregnating an organic fabric template with metal and phosphate ceramic precursors, heat treating the impregnated fabric to decompose the fabric to form a ceramic green body, and sintering the ceramic green body to form the scaffold which has a form analogous to that of the fabric template. Impregnating the fabric may be by soaking the fabric in a solution or sol containing the ceramic precursors. The fabric may be formed into a laminate prior to heat treating. Sintering results in fibers of the fabric being cross-sintered with one another to form a three-dimensional scaffold structure having controlled pore size and distribution. The scaffold may be treated with a material that promotes bone growth through the scaffold. |