Development of composites scaffolds with calcium and cerium-hydroxyapatite and gellan gum

Advances in bone defect treatment strategies have been the development of scaffolds. Among the materials used to produce scaffolds, synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAp) can simulate HAp found in human bone tissue and is used in the synthesis of scaffolds. Ion substitutions have been employed to enhance the characteristics of synthesized HAp, among them the ion exchange of Ca2+ ions for Ce3+. Biopolymers, gellan gum (GG), have potentiated the use of HAp acting as structuring agent in the composition. In this study was proposed the synthesis of two new materials, the scaffolds SH, composed by HAp with GG and, the scaffolds SCH composed by Ce-HAp and GG as materials can be potential to apply in bone defects. Scaffolds were characterized by FTIR, XRD, TG/DTG and SEM, and the techniques showed that the HAp phase and biopolymer were present in the scaffolds, besides revealed the porosity. The mechanical test showed that the scaffolds were sufficient strength to be applied as cancellous bone, implying potential for application in bone repair and regeneration.