Formation of bone-like apatite on polymeric surfaces modified with -SO3H groups

• Author(s): Leonor, I. B. ; Kim, H-M ; Balas, F. ; Kawashita, M. ; Reis, R. L. ; Kokubo, T. ; Nakamura, T.
• Date: 2006
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/18311
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Subject(s): Polymer; Sulfonic groups (-SO3H); Surface modification; Apatite; Simulated body fluid (SBF); Bioactivity
• Document Type: Part of book or chapter of book
• Language: English

Description

Sulfonic groups (-SO3H) were covalently attached on different polymeric surfaces enabling them to induce apatite nucleation, for developing bioactive apatite-polymer composites with a bonelike 3-dimensional structure. High molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE) and ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol co-polymer (EVOH) were used. The polymers were soaked in two types of sulphate-containing solutions with different concentrations, sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and chlorosulfonic acid (ClSO3H). To incorporate calcium ions into to the sulfonated polymers, the samples were soaked in a saturated Ca(OH)2 solution for 24 hours. After soaking of the samples in a simulated body fluid (SBF), formation of an apatite layer on both surfaces was observed. The results obtained prove the validity of the proposed concept and show that the -SO3H groups are effective on inducing apatite nucleation on the surface of these polymers.