Bone-like nanocomposites based on self-assembled protein-based matrices with Ca2+ capturing capability.
In the present work, bone-like nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized based on the mineralization of self-assembled protein-based microgels. Such mircogels were achieved by the in vitro reconstitution of collagen monomeric solutions in the presence of alginate in a microemulsion system. Microstructural observations revealed that the collagen-alginate composite beads possessed a nanofibrous three dimensional (3D) interconnected porous microstructure. The obtained microgels were pre-incubated in calcium-containing solution to capture Ca(2+) ions, and subsequently immersed in phosphate-containing solution to initiate the formation of hydroxyapatite (HA) by an alternative incubating procedure. It was observed that a substantial amount of bone-like apatite nanocrystals were orderly and homogeneously deposited throughout the porous fibrillar networks. Herein, the collagen-alginate composite microgels served as a mineralization template for the synthesis of HA-polymer nanocomposites, which could be ideal vehicles potentially for cell carriers, bone repair and proteins and drugs delivery in tissue regeneration.
Sang
Lin
L
National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, People's Republic of China.
Huang
Jie
J
Luo
Dongmei
D
Chen
Zhenhua
Z
Li
Xudong
X
D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
D011506:Proteins; D002118:Calcium