Micro-poro-elasticity of baghdadite-based bone tissue engineering scaffolds: A unifying approach based on ultrasonics, nanoindentation, and homogenization theory

Abstract

Microstructure-elasticity relations for bone tissue engineering scaffolds are key to rational biomaterial design. As a contribution thereto, we here report comprehensive length measuring, weighing, and ultrasonic tests at 0.1 MHz frequency, on porous baghdadite (Ca3ZrSi2O9) scaffolds. The resulting porosity-stiffness relations further confirm a formerly detected, micromechanically explained, general relationship for a great variety of different polycrystals, which also allows for estimating the zero-porosity case, i.e. Young modulus and Poisson ratio of pure (dense) baghdadite. These estimates were impressively confirmed by a physically and statistically independent nanoindentation campaign ..