title: Obtaining new composite biomaterials by means of mineralization of methacrylate hydrogels using the reaction-diffusion method.
abstract: The present paper describes the synthesis and characterization of a new polymeric biomaterial mineralized with calcium phosphate using the reaction-diffusion method. The scaffold of this biomaterial was a hydrogel constituted by biocompatible polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEM) and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEM), which were cross-linked with N-N'-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS). The cross-linking content of the hydrogels was varied from 0.25% to 15% (w/w). The gels were used as matrix where two reactants (Na2HPO4 and CaCl2) diffused from both ends of the gel and upon encountering produced calcium phosphate crystals that precipitated within the polymer matrix forming bands. The shape of the crystals was tuned by modifying the matrix porosity in such a way that when the polymer matrix was slightly reticulated the diffusion reaction produced round calcium phosphate microcrystals, whilst when the polymer matrix was highly reticulated the reaction yielded flat calcium phosphate crystals. Selected area electron diffraction performed on the nanocrystals that constitute the microcrystals showed that they were formed by Brushite (CaHPO4.2H2O). This new composite material could be useful in medical and dentistry applications such as bone regeneration, bone repair or tissue engineering.
authors: Department of Physical Chemistry II, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Yousof
authors: Y
authors: Ramadan
authors: Department of Physical Chemistry, School of Industrial Engineering, Castilla-La Mancha University, 02071 Albacete, Spain.
authors: M Isabel
authors: MI
authors: González-Sánchez
authors: Centre of Nanohealth, Institute of Life Sciences, College of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK.
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: Hawkins
authors: Department of Physical Chemistry II, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Rubio-Retama
authors: Department of Physical Chemistry, School of Industrial Engineering, Castilla-La Mancha University, 02071 Albacete, Spain.
authors: Edelmira
authors: E
authors: Valero
authors: School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF103NB, UK; Department of Biological Engineering, MA Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Perni
authors: School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF103NB, UK; Institute of Medical Engineering and Medical Physics, School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; Department of Biological Engineering, MA Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA.
authors: Polina
authors: P
authors: Prokopovich
authors: Department of Physical Chemistry II, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: cabarcos@farm.ucm.es.
authors: Enrique
authors: E
authors: López-Cabarcos
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D020100:Hydrogels; D008689:Methacrylates; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C049840:2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate
keywords: Bone regeneration material; Brushite particles; Composite materials; Hydrogels; Reaction diffusion