Studly of biomineralization of poly(vinyl alcohol)-based scaffolds using an alternate soaking approach

The present work adds to the continuing efforts of designing a natural bone-like structure by synthesizing a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of poly(vinyl alcohol) -poly[ (acrylic acid) -co-acrylonitrile] and impregnating hydroxyapatite (HAP) into the polymer matrix by an alternate soaking process. The prepared HAP-polymer scaffolds were characterized using techniques like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and environmental scanning electron microscopy. The biomineralized semi-IPN was evaluated for water sorption capacity and the data were utilized for calculating network parameters such as average molecular weight between crosslinks (M-c) and crosslink density (q). The impregnated HAP was quantified as a function of the chemical architecture of the semi-IPN, number of reaction cycles and temperature of the swelling bath. (C) 2006 Society of Chemical Industry.