MECHANICALLY COMPETENT NATURAL POLYMER BASED POROUS GRAFTS FOR BONE REPAIR AND REGENERATION

摘要

The invention provides a scaffold for bone or cartilage replacement, in which the scaffold is fabricated from naturally derived polymers. In one embodiment the invention provides a bone replacement scaffold, wherein the scaffold comprises sintered polysaccharide microspheres. In a particular embodiment the invention provides a bone replacement scaffold, in which the scaffold comprises polysaccharide microspheres comprising ethyl cellulose microspheres and/or cellulose acetate microspheres. The invention further includes methods of making bone replacement scaffolds and methods of treating bone injury in an animal.