Improving the strength and biocompatibility of porous titanium scaffolds by creating elongated pores coated with a bioactive, nanoporous TiO2 layer

This paper reports a novel way of improving the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of porous Ti scaffolds using a combination of the modified sponge replication method and anodization process The use of a stretched polymeric sponge as a novel template allowed the creation of elongated pores in a porous Ti scaffold, which, accordingly, led to a high compressive strength of 24 2 +/- 2 08 MPa at a porosity of approximately 70 vol% Furthermore, the surfaces of the Ti walls were coated successfully with a bioactive nanoporous TiO2 layer using the anodization process, which enhanced the biocompatibility remarkably, as assessed by the attachment of MC3T3-E1 cells (C) 2010 Elsevier B V. All rights reserved