title: Porous calcium alginate-gelatin interpenetrated matrix and its biomineralization potential.
abstract: Artificial bone composites exhibit distinctive features by comparison to natural tissues, due to a lack of self-organization and intimate interaction apatite-matrix. This explains the need of "bio-inspired materials", in which hydroxyapatite grows in contact with self-assembling natural polymers. The present work investigates the function of a rational design in the hydroxyapatite-forming potential of a common biopolymer. Gelatin modified through intrinsic interactions with calcium alginate led through freeze-drying to porous hydrogels, whose architecture, constitutive features and chemistry were investigated with respect to their role on biomineralization. The apatite-forming ability was enhanced by the porosity of the materials, while the presence of alginate-reinforced Gel elastic chains, definitely favored this phenomenon. Depending on the concentration, polysaccharide chains act as "ionic pumps" enhancing the biomineralization. The mineralization-promoting effect of the peptide-polysaccharide network strictly depends on the hydrogels structural, compositional and morphological features derived from the interaction between the above mentioned two components.
authors.affiliation: Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Group of Polymer Physics & BioMaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 149 Calea Victoriei, Sector 1, 010072, Bucharest, Romania. izabela.cristina.stancu@gmail.com
authors.forename: Izabela-Cristina
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Stancu
authors.forename: Diana Maria
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dragusin
authors.forename: Eugeniu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vasile
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trusca
authors.forename: Iulian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Antoniac
authors.forename: Dan Sorin
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Vasilescu
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D005782:Gels; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001704:Biopolymers; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D005782:Gels; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; D011134:Polysaccharides; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D005780:Gelatin; D017886:Durapatite; D002122:Calcium Chloride