Biomimetic Mineralization of Tannic Acid-Supplemented HEMA/SBMA Nanocomposite Hydrogels

Abstract

This study developed a tannic acid (TA)-supplemented 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-sulfobetaine methacrylate (HEMA-co-SBMA) nanocomposite hydrogel with mineralization and antibacterial functions. Initially, hybrid hydrogels were synthesized by incorporating SBMA into the HEMA network and the influence of SBMA on the chemical structure, water content, mechanical properties, and antibacterial characteristics of the hybrid HEMA/SBMA hydrogels was examined. Then, nanoclay (Laponite XLG) was introduced into the hybrid HEMA/SBMA hydrogels and the effects evaluated of the nanoclay on the chemical structure, water content, and mechanical properties of these supplemented hydrogels. The 50/50 hybrid HEMA/SBMA hydrogel with 30 mg/mL nanoclay showed outstanding mechanical properties (3 MPa) and water content (60%) compared to pure polyHEMA hydrogels. TA then went on to be incorporated into these hybrid nanocomposite hydrogels and its effects investigated on biomimetic mineralization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) showed that bone-like spheroidal precipitates with a Ca/P ratio of 1.67% were observed after 28 days within these mineralized hydrogels. These mineralized hydrogels demonstrated an almost 1.5-fold increase in compressive moduli compared to the hydrogels without mineralization. These multifunctional hydrogels display good mechanical and biomimetic properties and may have applications in bone regeneration therapies.

Nanocomposite Hydrogel Produced from PEGDA and Laponite for Bone Regeneration

“…[ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Clay nanocomposite hydrogels can be used to improve the mechanical performance of conventional hydrogels by incorporating nano-silicates into the nanocomposite hydrogen layers [ 5 , 8 ].…”

“…Laponite (Lap, Na 0.7 + [(Mg 5.5 Li 0.3 )Si 8 O 20 (OH) 4 ] 0.7 - ) is one of the clays that can be used to produce these hydrogels [ 8 , 9 ]. This nanoclay is a synthetic smectic with 25–30 nm diameter of and 1 nm thickness [ 10 ].…”

“…Lap crystals have positive charges on the edge and negative charges on the top and bottom surfaces [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. In addition, the presence of divalent cations, such as Mg 2+ , in laponite discs promotes better cell adhesion, leading to cell differentiation and, consequently, stimulating osteogenic differentiation [ 8 ]. Recent studies have combined Lap with polyethylene-glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) to improve the mechanical and osteogenic capacities of nanocomposite hydrogel, compared to non-clay hydrogels [ 5 , 13 ].…”

A Rapidly and Highly Self‐Healing Poly(Sulfobetaine Methacrylate) Hydrogel with Stretching Properties, Adhesive Properties, and Biocompatibility

“…The tensile modulus values were calculated as the slopes of the best‐fit lines from the linear region of the measured stress–strain data in the low‐strain regime (<40%). [ 43 ] The toughness of hydrogels was calculated by integrating the area under the stress–strain curve. For the cyclic tensile test, both loading and unloading cycles were performed at a constant jog rate of 100 mm min −1 .…”

Construction of a Soft Antifouling PAA/PSBMA Hydrogel Coating with High Toughness and Low Swelling through the Dynamic Coordination Bonding Provided by Al(OH)3 Nanoparticles

“…Chen et al developed a 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-cosulfobetaine methacrylate (HEMA-co-SBMA) hydrogel incorporated with nanoclay. 33 The inclusion of nanoclay significantly improved hydration and mechanical modulus compared to those of the pure poly(HEMA-co-SBMA) hydrogel. Nonetheless, further research is needed to develop hydrogel coatings with excellent antifouling properties and strong mechanical strength.…”