Abstract
Silica/polycaprolactone and titania/polycaprolactone hybrid organic/inorganic amorphous composites were prepared via a sol-gel method starting from a multi-element solution containing tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) or titanium butoxide (TBT), polycaprolactone (PCL), water and methylethylketone (MEK). The molecular structure of the crosslinked network was based on the presence of the hydrogen bonds between organic/inorganic elements as confirmed by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) analysis. In particular, the structure of crosslinked network was realized by hydrogen bonds between the X-OH (X = Si or Ti) group (H donator) in the sol-gel intermediate species and ester groups (H-acceptors) in the repeating units of the polymer. The morphology of the hybrid materials; pore size distribution, elemental homogeneity and surface features, was studied by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The bioactivity of the synthesized hybrid materials was confirmed by observing the formation of a layer of hydroxyapatite (HAP) on the surface of the samples soaked in a simulated body fluid. The antimicrobial behavior of synthetized hybrids was also assessed against Escherichia coli bacteria. In conclusion, the prepared hybrid materials are proposed for use as future bone implants.
Highlights
Since the 1990s, organic/inorganic nanocomposites networks have become a growing field of investigation [1,2,3]
The bioactivity of the synthesized hybrid materials was confirmed by observing the formation of a layer of hydroxyapatite (HAP) on the surface of the samples soaked in a simulated body fluid
The sol-gel route represents an interesting approach, which can be effectively applied to the preparation of the inorganic phases within the inorganic/organic hybrid materials, due to the fact that it can occur in liquid solutions at room temperature
Summary
Since the 1990s, organic/inorganic nanocomposites networks have become a growing field of investigation [1,2,3]. The sol-gel route represents an interesting approach, which can be effectively applied to the preparation of the inorganic phases within the inorganic/organic hybrid materials, due to the fact that it can occur in liquid solutions at room temperature. These materials are considered to be biphasic, where the organic and inorganic phases are mixed at the nanometric or submicronic scales. It has been proved that the role of the inner interfaces is predominant; in particular, the nature of the interface is the critical parameter used to distinguish two different classes [4]: class I collects those hybrid materials with weak bonds (hydrogen, van der Waals or ionic bonds), and class II gathers materials where the phases are linked together through strong chemical bonds (covalent or ionic-covalent bonds).
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