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In‐situ sol‐gel synthesis and characterization of bioactive pHEMA/SiO 2 blend hybrids
Author(s) -
Silvestri B.,
Luciani G.,
Costantini A.,
Tescione F.,
Branda F.,
Pezzella A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.31225
Subject(s) - monomer , glass transition , hybrid material , materials science , polymerization , chemical engineering , methacrylate , sol gel , polymer , polymer chemistry , phase (matter) , thermal decomposition , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , engineering
A novel procedure to synthesize poly(2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate)‐silica blend hybrids is presented. Methacrylate monomers bearing an alkoxysilyl unit, prepared by Michael addition of 2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) to 3‐Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) were employed. By 13 C NMR and mass analysis it was possible to establish the formation of coupling hybrid species. Hybrid materials, with final concentration ranging from 10% to 30% w/w of silica gel to the mass of polymer, were obtained through basic catalyzed sol‐gel process of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and the alkoxysilyl unit of the hybrid monomer, followed by in‐situ free‐radical polymerization. The hybrids were characterized as far as concerns their thermal properties (glass transition temperature, decomposition temperature), their sorption behavior in water, and in‐vitro bioactivity. Optical transparency, higher glass transition temperature, and higher decomposition temperature than pHEMA suggest an increase in either density or intensity of cross‐links between the organic and the inorganic phases. The swelling ratio of the 30% hybrids is comparable to pHEMA, whereas it is lower for the other compositions. In‐vitro bioactivity of the hybrids, due to the inorganic phase, was ascertained. Soaking time required for apatite deposition on the samples surface decreases as the content of silica gel increases. Therefore, the obtained bioactive hybrids can be used to make bioactive scaffolds for bone engineering. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009