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Controlled and Tunable Biomimetic Apatite Mineralization of Synthetic Hydrogels
Author(s) -
Harding Jacqueline L.,
Krebs Melissa D.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.201600151
Subject(s) - apatite , self healing hydrogels , materials science , chemical engineering , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , vinyl alcohol , mineralization (soil science) , simulated body fluid , composite number , calcium , scanning electron microscope , infrared spectroscopy , polymer chemistry , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , polymer , metallurgy , nitrogen , engineering
There has been much work examining bioinspired mineralization of polymeric hydrogels with calcium phosphates, yet a systematic method for the predictable and tunable synthesis of biomimetic apatites is yet to be developed. Here, a method for the selective mineralization of substituted apatite composite hydrogels where the incorporated mineral phase is formed as a result of a chemical reaction within the hydrogel matrix is presented. Mineralized hydrogels are prepared by precipitating the apatite precursor phase dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solution, which is then crosslinked into a composite hydrogel by cyclic freeze/thawing. The encapsulated DCPD is hydrolyzed to apatite by immersion in buffers at 37 °C. Tuning the pH (7.4, 9) and ionic composition (CO 3 2− , F − ) of the buffer influence the morphology and chemical composition of the apatite product. The incorporated calcium phosphate polymorph is monitored by X‐ray diffraction, attenuated total reflectance‐fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR), and scanning electron microscope‐energy dispersive X‐ray. The apatite–PVA hydrogels promote cellular adhesion and viability. The method developed here demonstrates diffusion‐mediated transformation of a calcium phosphate precursor phase within a hydrogel matrix to various substituted apatites in a selective and predictable manner.