A series of monolithic poly[methyl
methacrylate-co-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl
methacrylate]−silica hybrid materials have been prepared via the sol−gel
reactions. The fracture
surfaces of the materials were systematically examined with atomic
force microscopy (AFM)
as a function of the silica content from ∼23 to 100 vol %. For
the transparent materials,
the AFM image of the sample at a low silica content of 23 vol % is
very smooth and essentially
featureless while those at higher silica contents show relatively
greater surface roughness
and development of domains of various shapes and sizes. In sharp
contrast, the optically
translucent and phase-separated samples exhibit significantly higher
surface roughness and
larger domain size than all the transparent hybrid materials,
suggesting that the transparent
materials might have little or no organic−inorganic phase
separation.
Bioactive materials such as calcium phosphate ceramics and bioactive glasses enhance bone tissue formation and then bond to bone tissue. In our work, we question what particular surface feature or features of bioactive materials are responsible for the bone tissue response. In this study we have uncoupled surface charge from surface chemistry, energy, and topography and have examined osteoblast adhesion to titanium surfaces of varying surface charge. We have shown that a negative surface charge promotes osteoblast adhesion by approximately 60% over a neutral surface and that conversely, a positive surface charge inhibits osteoblast adhesion by about 20%. Continued examination of surface characteristics that control cellular responses are warranted with the eventual goal of applying those desirable surface characteristics to any structural biomaterial for bone implant or tissue engineering applications.
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