About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
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Biomaterials for 3D Printing of Scaffolds & Porous Materials
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| Presentation Title |
Unidirectional freeze-cast luminescent hydroxyapatite scaffold for theranostics |
| Author(s) |
Lidia F. Vazquez, Fabian Martinez Pallares, Olivia A. Graeve |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Lidia F. Vazquez |
| Abstract Scope |
Hydroxyapatite (HAp) and β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) are ceramics widely used in bone repair due to their chemical similarity to natural bone mineral. Their complementary properties, HAp's long-term stability and TCP's higher absorbability, produces scaffolds that promote bone regeneration and integration with host tissue. This study presents the fabrication of luminescent hydroxyapatite-based scaffolds for theranostics. Europium doping gives HAp luminescent properties, enabling non-invasive tracking of the scaffold solubility producing both treatment and real-time imaging. Both undoped and europium-doped HAp (HAp:Eu) were synthesized by solution combustion synthesis. Photoluminescence confirmed the incorporation of Eu<sup>3+</sup> in HAp, with characteristic emission peaks between 550 and 620 nm. Powders were heat treated at different temperatures. Thermal treatment increased TCP content and particle size in both undoped and doped powders. Scaffolds were fabricated using unidirectional-freeze casting achieving controlled porosity and aligned architecture. Overall, these findings highlight luminescent HAp as a promising platform for theranostics. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |