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Effect of Comonomers on Physical Properties and Cell Attachment to Silica‐Methacrylate/Acrylate Hybrids for Bone Substitution
Author(s) -
Chung Justin J.,
Sum Brian S. T.,
Li Siwei,
Stevens Molly M.,
Georgiou Theoni K.,
Jones Julian R.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201700168
Subject(s) - comonomer , materials science , acrylate , methacrylate , chain transfer , methyl methacrylate , polymer , polymer chemistry , copolymer , polymerization , composite material , radical polymerization
Hybrids with a silica network covalently bonded to a polymer are promising materials for bone repair. Previous work on synthesizing methyl methacrylate (MMA) based copolymers by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization gives high tailorability of mechanical properties since sophisticated polymer structures can be designed. However, more flexible hybrids would be beneficial. Here, n ‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) and methyl acrylate (MA) based hybrids are produced. Unlike MMA, BMA and MA hybrids do not show plastic deformation, and BMA hybrid has strain to failure of 33%. Although the new hybrids are more flexible, preosteoblast cells do not adhere on their surfaces, due to higher hydrophobicity and lower stiffness. Comonomer choice is crucial for bone regenerative hybrids.