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    Optimization of spark plasma sintered titania for potential application as a keratoprosthesis skirt

    Year: 2017

    Journal: J. Biomed. Mater. Res. Part A, Volume 105, DEC, page 3502–3513

    Authors: Li, Zhong; Yam, Gary Hin-Fai; Thompson, Brianna C.; Setiawan, Melina; Goh, Gwendoline Tze Wei; Tan, Donald; Mehta, Jodhbir S.; Khor, Khiam Aik

    Organizations: Singapore National Research Foundation under its Translational and Clinical Research (TCR) Programme, National Medical Research Council, Ministry of Health, Singapore [NMRC/TCR/008-SERI/2013]

    Keywords: titanium dioxide; spark plasma sintering; temperature; mechanical properties; biocompatibility

    The manufacture of mechanically strong and biocompatible titania (TiO2) materials is of vital importance for their application as corneal implant skirts. This study was aimed at optimizing the selection of raw powder and sintering conditions for TiO2 ceramics. TiO2 compacts were synthesized from five raw powders, denoted as Altair, Inframat, Alfa, Materion, and Amperit, respectively, by spark plasma sintering using different sintering parameters. The XRD and Raman results confirmed that the anatase TiO2 phase in the Inframat powder had converted completely to rutile TiO2 phase after sintering at 900 degrees C and above. The nanoindentation results indicated that among the five types of TiO2 samples sintered at 1100 degrees C, the Inframat pellets possessed the highest Young's modulus and hardness. Additionally, when Materion samples were employed to study the effects of SPS parameters, a higher sintering temperature in the range of 1100-1300 degrees C decreased the mechanical properties of sintered pellets probably due to the generation of more structural defects. Culture of human corneal stromal fibroblasts on the sintered sample surfaces showed that comparably high cell viability and proliferation were observed on all TiO2 samples except Amperit compared to positive control. Furthermore, cells cultured on Inframat TiO2 sintered in the temperature range of 900-1300 degrees C exhibited viability and formation of focal adhesion complex similar to those on control, and those prepared at 1100 degrees C had significantly higher cell proliferation indices than control. In conclusion, Inframat TiO2 consolidated at 1100 degrees C by SPS was the best formulation for the preparation of mechanically strong and biocompatible Keratoprosthesis skirt. (c) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 3502-3513, 2017.
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