Bio-compatible n-HAPs/polymer monolithic composites templated from CO2-in-water high internal phase emulsions

Abstract

According to the applications of materials in food and biology etc. fields, the open-cell macroporous polymer composite must contain a non-toxic component, and be bio-compatible, and the preparation processes should be green and facile. Herein, bio-compatible macro-porous nano-hydroxyapatite particles (n-HAPs)/polymer monolithic composites were templated from green and facile CO2-in-Water high internal phase emulsion (C/W HIPE). The bio-active n-HAPs that acted as emulsifiers were incorporated, which enable the well-dispersion of functional fillers in these monolithic composites. Green and facile C/W HIPE templating combined with radical polymerization of bio-compatible monomers involves nontoxic chemicals, and produced polymer monolith with macro-porous open-cell structure (80–120 μm in pore size, 20–40 μm in pore-throat size), and enable the n-HAPs/polymer improved flexibility and mechanical performance (above 80% compression strain, > 400 kPa of compression strength). Results of bio-compatibility tests show that these n-HAPs/polymer monoliths have non-cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells; Furthermore, the immobilization of pectinase by the composite indicates that composites have physical adsorption of pectinase, and the introduction of n-HAPs is more conducive to the immobilization of pectinase and the improvement and maintenance of enzyme activity; after reusing the immobilized pectinase 10 times, the relative catalytic activity can still be above 85%. Therefore, this kind of porous composite has promising potential in applications of bio-tissue engineering, food, and pharmaceutical.