Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics Research Group

Papers in Scientific Journals

Alkaline treatments to render starch based biodegradable polymers self-mineralizable

Abstract

The present research aims to develop a new route for surface functionalization of biodegradable polymers. The method is based on a wet chemistry modification, resulting in etching and/or hydrolysis in order to increase the amount of polar groups, such as hydroxyl (-OH) and carboxylic (-COOH) groups on the surface of the polymer. The polymer used as substrate was a corn starch-ethylene vinyl alcohol biodegradable blend (SEVA-C). For that purpose it was used in two different types of activation: (a) calcium hydroxide solution [Ca(OH)(2)] and (b) sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH). These treatments lead to the formation carboxylic acid-rich SEVA-C surfaces. Then, the samples were soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF) for different time periods of time until 7 days. After 1 day in SBF, the surface of SEVA-C was fully covered with spherulite particles. As the soaking time increased, the particles increased and coalesced, leading to the formation of a dense and uniform layer. Furthermore, thin-film X-ray diffraction confirms that the layer formed on the surface of the polymer was an apatite-like layer. These results suggest that this rather simple treatment is a good method for surface functionalization and subsequent mineral nucleation and growth on biodegradable polymeric surfaces to be used for bone-related applications. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Journal
Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Volume
1
Issue
6
Pagination
425-435
Publisher
Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J
URL
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/term.54/abstract
Keywords
apatite, bioactivity, biodegradable polymer, functional groups, simulated body fluid (SBF), starch-based polymers
Rights
Restricted Access
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Status
published
Year of Publication
2007
DOI
10.1002/term.54
Date Published
2007-01-08
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