Improving the mechanical performance of 45S5 3D scaffolds through the particles of barium titanate ceramics

Bioglass® 45S5 is widely used in bone tissue engineering due to its excellent bioactivity. However, its low mechanical strength remains a major limitation. In this study, 25 wt% barium titanate (BaTiO3; BT) was incorporated into 45S5 scaffolds to improve mechanical performance and modulate bioactivity. The 3D scaffolds were fabricated using the foam replication method and exhibited interconnected porosity, with average pore sizes of 471 ± 94 μm (45S5) and 598 ± 58 μm (45S5/BT25), closely resembling human bone. The addition of BT increased the density and compressive strength of the scaffolds to 2.89 ± 0.18 g∙cm‒3 and 2.0 ± 0.2 MPa, respectively. Bioactivity evaluation in simulated body fluid (SBF) revealed delayed carbonated hydroxyapatite (CHA) formation in 45S5/BT25 scaffolds, with CHA detected after 21 days, compared to 7 days in pure 45S5. This delay was consistent with FTIR, SEM-EDS, and XRD results and is likely attributed the formation of a stable Ba2TiSi2O8 phase. Overall, these results indicate that BT-modified 45S5 scaffolds not only exhibit improved mechanical performance but also offer tunable bioactivity, making them promising candidates for tailored bone regeneration applications.