title: Three-dimensional nanocomposite scaffolds with ordered cylindrical orthogonal pores.
abstract: A silica reinforcement can improve the mechanical properties of hydrogels in the rubbery state. A method to prepare a scaffold with a well-ordered array of cylindrical pores is presented in this work, which yields a scaffold with a biphasic matrix of a hybrid nanocomposite: the hydrogel poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) and a silica network obtained by an acid catalyzed sol-gel process of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). As porogenic template of the scaffold stacked layers of commercial polyamide 6 fabrics were used, which were compressed and sintered. Porosity and dynamic mechanical response of the resulting scaffolds were measured and compared with the bulk properties. Removal of the organic polymer phase of the scaffold by pyrolysis revealed the overall continuity of the silica network; the residue maintained the original cylindrical pore structure of the scaffolds, though slightly shrunk. Atomic force microscopy topography measurements of these pyrolysed residues revealed a silica structure with particle aggregates having sizes around tens of nanometers. The silica distribution was assessed by X-ray microanalysis mapping, showing homogeneity at a micrometer scale.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomaterials, Polytechnic University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain. jorodhe1@ter.upv.es
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Hernández
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serrano Aroca
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gómez Ribelles
authors.forename: Manuel Monleón
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pradas
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053761:Nanocomposites; D011108:Polymers; D016062:Porosity; D012821:Silanes; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; D012821:Silanes; C035957:2-hydroxyethyl acrylate; C040733:tetraethoxysilane