Development of synthetic alternatives for bone tissue engineering.

Abstract

Due to the inherent limitations of current biological bone grafts, alternative synthetic substitutes are being pursued. Therefore, this study aimed to improve the bioactive and compressive properties of photopolymerisable polyethylene glycol hydrogels with the incorporation of hydroxyapatite at different loadings. The synthesis of pure hydroxyapatite was verified through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis by the complete reaction of all constituents. X-ray diffraction confirmed a bioactive layer on the surface of the hydrogel based composites through the formation of carbonate hydroxyapatite. A reduction in percentage swelling and hydroxyapatite absorbing the compressive load resulted in the hydrogel composites with enhanced compression strength in terms of Young’s modulus and storage modulus.