Biomimetic formation of crystalline bone-like apatite layers on spongy materials templated by bile salts aggregates

Since the trabecular bone exhibit sponge-like bicontinuity there is a growing interest in the synthesis of spongy-like sieves for the construction of bio-active implantable materials. Here, we propose a one step sol–gel method for the synthesis of bicontinuous pore silica materials using different bile salts aqueous mixtures as templates. The influences of the type and amount of bile salt on the synthesis processes are investigated and correlated with the final material morphology. As a final point, their structural properties are interrelated with their ability to induce a bone-like apatite layer in contact with simulated body fluid (SBF). We have confirmed that under specific template conditions, the synthesized material has an open bio-active macropore structure that is blanched in a 3D-disordered sponge-like network similar than those existed in trabecular bone.