Synthesis, characterization, and biological studies of sintered porous titanium with three different pore morphologies

Abstract Integrating implants with the surrounding bone tissue is a significant challenge in medical engineering. A promising option with appropriate biological and mechanical characteristics is porous titanium, which can be employed in mineralizing bones and ingrowth applications. In the present study, titanium foams were fabricated using titanium hydride powder and the following space holders: (1) needle-shaped urea, (2) spherical urea, and (3) cubic sodium chloride. All samples were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, and mechanical compression testing. Our results revealed that powder metallurgy is suitable for producing titanium foam with various pore morphologies. The shape of sample pores replicates the type of space holders. Also, the influence of three distinct pore morphologies on the human primary osteogenic sarcoma cell line, MG-63, was evaluated. In-vitro investigation showed that samples with sharp-cornered pores increase the attached cellular filopodia to the foams after seeding. This result is helpful in porous titanium applications for restoring bone defects.