Figure 1. Experimental protocol.
A - Moulds are produced by rapid prototyping. A build wax (blue) is used to print the mould in 3 D. A support wax (red) is added to reinforce the object while printing, and then removed by dissolution. B - Hydroxyapatite slurry is cast into the moulds, slowly dried and sintered. C - Pre-osteoblast cells are seeded (105 cells/cm2) on the scaffolds and cultured for 28 days. D - Tissue growth is quantified by phase contrast microscopy twice a week by measuring the projected tissue area (PTA) in each pore.