• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.279-285
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• 2012

The co-precipitation technique has been applied to synthesize Biphasic Calcium Phosphate (BCP), Mg-BCP and Si-BCP. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the structure of synthesized BCP, Mg-BCP and Si-BCP powders. The results have shown that BCP and substitution of magnesium and silicon in the calcium deficient apatites revealed the formation of biphasic mixtures of Hydroxyapatite (HAp)/${\beta}$-Tricalcium phosphate (${\beta}$-TCP) ratios after heating at $1000^{\circ}C$. Ionic substituted BCP is able to develop a new apatite phase on the surface in contact with physiological fluids faster than BCP does. An MTT assay indicated that BCP, Mg-BCP, and Si-BCP powders had no cytotoxic effects on MG-63 cells, and that they have good biocompatibility.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.331-337
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• 2010

A highly porous Biphasic Calcium Phosphate (BCP) scaffold was fabricated by the sponge replica method with a microwave sintering technique. The BCP scaffold had interconnected pores ranging from $80\;{\mu}m$ to $1000\;{\mu}m$, which were similar to natural cancellous bone. To enhance the mechanical properties of the porous scaffold, infiltration of polycaprolactone (PCL) was employed. The microstructure of the BCP scaffold was optimized using various volume percentages of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) for the infiltration process. PCL successfully infiltrated into the hollow space of the strut formed after the removal of the polymer sponge throughout the degassing and high pressure steps. The microstructure and material properties of the BCP scaffold (i.e., pore size, morphology of infiltrated and coated PCL, compressive strength, and porosity) were evaluated. When a 30 vol% of PMMA was used, the PCL-BCP scaffold showed the highest compressive strength. The compressive strength values of the BCP and PCL-BCP scaffolds were approximately 1.3 and 2MPa, respectively. After the PCL infiltration process, the porosity of the PCL-BCP scaffold decreased slightly to 86%, whereas that of the BCP scaffold was 86%. The number of pores in the $10\;{\mu}m$ to $20\;{\mu}m$ rage, which represent the pore channel inside of the strut, significantly decreased. The in-vitro study confirmed that the PCL-infiltrated BCP scaffold showed comparable cell viability without any cytotoxic behavior.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.392-400
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• 2010

The electrospinning process was established as a promising method to fabricate nano and micro-textured scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. A BCP-loaded PCL micro-textured scaffold thus can be a viable option. The biocompatibility as well as the mechanical properties of such scaffold materials should be optimized for this purpose. In this study, a composite scaffold of poly ($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL)-biphase calcium phosphate (BCP) was successfully fabricated by electrospinning. EDS and XRD data show successful loading of BCP nano particles in the PCL fibers. Morphological characterization of fibers shows that with a higher loaded BCP content the fiber surface was rougher and the diameter was approximately 1 to 7 ${\mu}m$. Tensile modulus and ultimate tensile stress reached their highest values in the PCL- 10 wt% BCP composite. When content of nano ceramic particles was low, they were dispersed in the fibers as reinforcements for the polymer matrix. However, at a high content of ceramic particles, the particles tend to agglomerate and lead to decreasing tensile modulus and ultimate stress of the PCL-BCP composite mats. Therefore, the use of nano BCP content for distribution in fiber polymer using BCP for reinforcement is limited. Tensile strain decreased with increasing content of BCP loading. From in vitro study using MG-63 osteoblast cells and L-929 fibroblast like cells, it was confirmed that electrospun PCL-BCP composite mats were biocompatible and that spreading behavior was good. As BCP content increased, the area of cell spreading on the surface of the mats also increased. Cells showed the best adherence on the surface of composite mats at 50 wt% BCP for both L-929 fibroblast-like cells and MG-63 osteoblast cell. PCL- BCP composites are a promising material for application in bone scaffolds.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.418-422
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• 2010

As a starting material, BCP (biphasic calcium phosphate) nano powder was synthesized by a hydrothermal microwave-assisted process. A highly porous BCP scaffold was fabricated by the sponge replica method using 60 ppi (pore per inch) of polyurethane sponge. The BCP scaffold had interconnected pores ranging from $100\;{\mu}m$ to $1000\;{\mu}m$, which were similar to natural cancellous bone. To realize the antibacterial property, a microwave-assisted nano Ag spot coating process was used. The morphology and distribution of nano Ag particles were different depending on the coating conditions, such as concentration of the $AgNO_3$ solution, microwave irradiation times, etc. With an increased microwave irradiation time, the amount of coated nano Ag particles increased. The surface of the BCP scaffold was totally covered with nano Ag particles homogeneously at 20 seconds of microwave irradiation time when 0.6 g of $AgNO_3$ was used. With an increased amount of $AgNO_3$ and irradiation time, the size of the coated particles increased. Antibacterial activities of the solution extracted from the Ag-coated BCP scaffold were examined against gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). When 0.6 g of $AgNO_3$ was used for coating the Ag-coated scaffold, it showed higher antibacterial activities than that of the Ag-coated scaffold using 0.8 g of $AgNO_3$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2010

In this study, we investigated primary biocompatibility and osteogenic gene expression of porous granular BCP bone substitutes with or without strontium (Sr) doping. In vitro biocompatibility was investigated on fibroblasts like L929 cells and osteoblasts like MG-63 cells using a cell viability assay (MTT) and one cell morphological observation by SEM, respectively. MTT results showed a cell viability percent of L929 fibroblasts, which was higher in Sr-BCP granules (98-101%) than in the non-doped granules (92-96%, p < 0.05). Osteoblasts like MG-63 cells were also found to proliferate better on Sr-doped BCP granules (01-111%) than on the non-doped ones (92-99%, p < 0.05) using an MTT assay. As compared with pure BCP granules, SEM images of MG-63 cells grown on sample surfaces confirmed that cellular spreading, adhesion and proliferation were facilitated by Sr doping on BCP. Active filopodial growth of MG-63 cells was also observed on Sr-doped BCP granules. The cells on Sr-doped BCP granules were well attached and spread out. Gene expression of osteonectin, osteopontin and osteoprotegrin were also evaluated using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which showed that the mRNA phenotypes of these genes were well maintained and expressed in Sr-doped BCP granules. These results suggest that Sr doping in a porous BCP granule can potentially enhance the biocompatibility and bone ingrowth capability of BCP biomaterials.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2014

We have fabricated white organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) using several thicknesses of electron-transport layer. The multi-emission layer structure doped with red and blue phosphorescent guest emitters was used for achieving white emission. 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (BCP) was used as an electron-transport layer. The thickness of BCP layer was varied to be 20, 55, and 120 nm. The current efficiency, emission and recombination characteristics of multi-layer white OLEDs were investigated. The BCP layer thickness variation results in the shift of emission spectrum due to the recombination zone shift. As the BCP layer thickness increases, the recombination zone shifts toward the electron-transport layer/emission-layer interface. The white OLED with a 55 nm thick BCP layer exhibited a maximum current efficiency of 40.9 cd/A.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.243-248
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• 2010

Si-substituted biphasic calcium phosphates (Si-BCP) were prepared by co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the structure of Si-BCP powders. The Si-BCP powders with various Ca/(P+Si) molar ratio were carried out on structural change of hydroxyapatite (HAp) and ${\beta}$-tricalcium phosphate ($\ss$-TCP). The in-vitro bioactivity of the Si-BCP powders was determined by immersing the powders in SBF solution, after that observing the chemical composition and morphology change by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.154.2-154.2
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• 2007

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.169-174
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• 2011

Nanoscale-biodegradable behaviors of synthesized biphasic calcium phosphates (BCP) powders were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), lattice parameter, and field emission microscopy (FE-SEM). The calcined BCP powders in vitro tested in Hank's balanced salt solution (pH = 7.4, $36.5^{\circ}C$) for 3 weeks. The calculated unit cell parameters for BCP have shown lattice distortion and expansion as irregular changes in the a and c-axis after in vitro.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2012

The co-precipitation technique has been applied to synthesize biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP). $Ca(NO_3)_2{\cdot}4H_2O$ and $(NH_4)_2HPO_4$ as the starting materials was used. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the structure of as-synthesized and calcined BCP powders. After immersion in Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), for 1 week a precipitation started to be formed with individual small granules on the specimen surface. An MTT assay indicated that BCP powders have no cytotoxic effects on MG-63 cells, and that they have good biocompatibility.