Mimicking the inorganic component of bone through mesoporous hydroxyapatite and mesoporous bioactive glasses

This work represents the initial phase of the ERC Boost Project whose aim is the fabrication of a smart scaffold that mimics the natural bone chemistry, structure and topography for the treatment of osteoporotic fractures. Since human bone is composed of an organic matrix (mainly type I collagen) and an inorganic phase made up by nanometric crystals of hydroxyapatite, the starting material chosen for the project is a composite material made by collagen, mesoporous hydroxyapatite (MHA) and/or mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBG). Mesoporous materials have exceptional textural properties (high surface area, high pore volume and ordered mesoporosity) that lead to an improved reactivity in body fluids, making them particularly suitable for bone tissue regeneration.