Novel phosphonic acid-functionalized poly(amido amine) (PAA) macromers are synthesized through aza-Michael addition of 2-aminoethyl phosphonic acid or its mixture with 5-amino-1pentanol at different ratios onto N,N′ -methylene bis(acrylamide) to control the amount of phosphonic acid functionality. The macromers were homo-and copolymerized with 2hydroxyethyl methacrylate at different ratios to obtain hydrogels with various hydrophilicities.The hydrogels' swelling, biodegradation and mineralization properties were evaluated. The swelling and degradation rates of the gels can be tuned by the chemical structure of PAA macromer precursors as well as pH and CaCl2 pre-treatment. The hydrogels show compositiondependent mineralization in SBF and 5xSBF, as evidenced from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) analyses. The degradation products of the hydrogels have no effect on U-2 OS, Saos-2 and NIH 3T3 cells, suggesting their cytocompatibility. Overall, these materials have potential to be used as nontoxic degradable biomaterials.

Incorporation of bisphosphonate/bisphosphonic acid groups in dental monomer structures should increase interaction of these monomers with dental tissue as these groups have strong affinity for hydroxyapatite. Therefore, new urea dimethacrylates functionalized with bisphosphonate (1a, 1b) and bisphosphonic acid (2a, 2b) groups are synthesized and evaluated for dental applications. Monomers 1a and 1b are synthesized from 2isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM) and two bisphosphonated amines (BPA1 and BPA2), prepared as reported elsewhere. Selective dealkylation of the bisphosphonate ester groups of 1a and 1b using trimethylsilyl bromide (TMSBr) gives monomers (2a and 2b) with bisphosphonic acid functionality. X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses of monomer-treated HAP particles show that 2a induces formation of stable monomer-calcium salts, similar to 10methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP), with higher chemical interaction than 2b. The photopolymerization studies indicate good copolymerizability with commercial dental monomers. In vitro studies on NIH 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells have clearly shown that the tested monomers (1b and 2b) are not toxic according to the MTT standards. All these properties make these monomers suitable as biocompatible cross-linkers/adhesives for dental applications.

Biodegradability, hemocompatibility, resistance to protein adsorption, and strong interactions with hydroxyapatite (HAP)-based tissues such as dentin, enamel, and bone are important properties of phosphorus-containing biomaterials. Here, novel phosphonate-functionalized poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) macromers are synthesized through aza-Michael addition of various diacrylates [1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA), poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA, M = 575), 1,4-butanediol diacrylate (BDDA), 1,6-hexanediol ethoxylate diacrylate (HDEDA) and triethylene glycol diacrylate (TEGDA)] and a phosphonate-containing primary amine (diethyl 2-aminoethylphosphonate, A1) efficiently without any catalyst; where replacement of A1 with propyl amine (PA) served as control. The macromers, whose molecular weight is ca. 1000-4000 Da as confirmed by both GPC and H-NMR spectroscopy, are photopolymerized to give biodegradable gels. The degradation behavior and cell interaction of these gels are studied. The degradation rates of the gels can be varied by choice of starting acrylates and the acrylate:amine ratio. Furthermore, the gels showed slightly higher degradability than PA-based analogs (controls). Except TEGDA and PEGDA-based ones, all phosphonate-functionalized PBAE gels supported the attachment of larger number of SaOS-2 cells than nonphosphonated ones and the best film was found to be the one based on HDEDA-A1 with balanced hydrophilicity. Degradation products of these films have no significant cytotoxicity except HDDA-PA. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1390-1399, 2018.

To date, numerous contemporary Turkish composers have written concertos for solo viola, sonatas for viola and piano, and solo viola pieces. Solo Sonata for Viola, composed by Hatıra Ahmedli Cafer, is the first solo viola sonata written by a contemporary Turkish composer. This piece has been composed in a single-movement form. The composer wrote the piece in sonata form to signify the clashing of two opposing ideas and their continued struggle. Because the piece has been composed in a contemporary style, the composer used smaller versions of big themes and emphasized tetrachords. The Segah Makam, brought modal characteristics to the piece.