title: Swelling properties and bioactivity of silica gel/pHEMA nanocomposites.
abstract: A novel hydrogel based on 2-hydroxyethyl- methacrilate and SiO(2) nanoparticles was prepared. The filler was added at a concentration of 30% w/w of silica nanoparticles to the mass of polymer. The composite material was characterised as far as concerns swelling behaviour in comparison to pHEMA. Swelling ratio of modified pHEMA was higher. Bioactivity of both SiO(2) nanoparticles and the modified hydrogel was evaluated by soaking samples into a simulated body fluid (SBF). FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive system (EDS) results suggest silica nanoparticles keep bioactive in the polymer. SiO(2) filler in a p(HEMA) matrix makes the composite bioactive. Therefore, these composites can be used to make bioactive scaffold for bone engineering.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria dei Materiali e della Produzione, Universitá di Napoli Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio, 80-80125 Napoli, Italy. anicosta@uina.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Annunziata
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Branda
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D058428:Silica Gel; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008689:Methacrylates; D058428:Silica Gel; C005044:hydroxyethyl methacrylate; D012822:Silicon Dioxide