title: Biological evaluation of zirconia/PEG hybrid materials synthesized via sol-gel technique.
abstract: The objective of the following study has been the synthesis via sol-gel and the characterization of novel organic-inorganic hybrid materials to be used in biomedical field. The prepared materials consist of an inorganic zirconia matrix containing as organic component the polyethylene glycol (PEG), a water-soluble polymer used in medical and pharmaceutical fields. Various hybrids have been synthesized changing the molar ratio between the organic and inorganic parts. Fourier transform spectroscopy suggests that the structure of the interpenetrating network is realized by hydrogen bonds between the Zr-OH group in the sol-gel intermediate species and both the terminal alcoholic group and ethereal oxygen atoms in the repeating units of polymer The amorphous nature of the gels has been ascertained by X-ray diffraction analysis. The morphology observation has been carried out by using the Scanning Electron Microscope and has confirmed that the obtained materials are nanostructurated hybrids. The bioactivity of the synthesized system has been shown by the formation of a hydroxyapatite layer on the surface of samples soaked in a fluid simulating the human blood plasma. The potential biocompatibility of hybrids has been assessed as performing indirect MTT cytotoxicity assay towards 3T3 cell line at 24, 48, and 72 h exposure times.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, Second University of Naples, Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy. Electronic address: michelina.catauro@unina2.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catauro
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, Second University of Naples, Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Papale
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, Second University of Naples, Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bollino
authors.affiliation: Department Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallicchio
authors.affiliation: Department Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pacifico
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D017886:Durapatite / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005782:Gels; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017886:Durapatite; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide
keywords: Bioactivity; Biocompatibility; Organic/inorganic hybrid; PEG; Sol–gel