Journal of Bionic Engineering (2022) 19:1637–1644  https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-022-00237-6

Wenmin Zhang1,2 · Caixia Liang1,2,3 · Qixuan He1,2 · Xiaoyan Cao4  · Fangli Yuan4  · Jiandong Ye1,2,5

1 School of Material Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China 

2 National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Guangzhou 510006, China 

3 Guangdong Fapon Biotech Co. Ltd, Dongguan 523808, China 

4 Inspection and Quarantine Comprehensive Technology Centre of Foshan Entry‐exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Foshan 528042, China

 5 Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials of Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China

Abstract:In the present study, it is found that the prepared alumina ceramics has better mineralization ability in a newly revised simulated body fuid. With the extension of mineralization time, the amount of hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals deposited on the surface of alumina ceramics also increased gradually. The results of cell biological experiments of alumina ceramics with hydroxyapatite surface layer demonstrate that the mineralized materials have better biological activity and osteogenesis properties in vitro. In the meanwhile, the ALP activity and expression of osteogenesis-related genes (OPN, ALP, Col-I, and OCN) of mouse bone marrow stromal stem cells on the samples were signifcantly promoted by increasing the formation of HA on the surface of alumina ceramics. Our research concluded that alumina ceramics with HA phase on surface had great potential to be developed as a sort of bioactive material in the bone repair feld.

Keywords：Alumina · Biomaterials · Mineralization · Hydroxyapatite · Osteoblasts

XRD patterns (a, b) and SEM images (c) of alumina ceramics before and after being soaked in Rn-SBF for 0, 3, 7 and 14 days, respectively; EDS element mapping images (d) of mineralized surface of alumina ceramics soaked in Rn-SBF for 14 days