Deep hydroxyapatite deposition in porous poly(ethylene glycol) sponge hydrogel via optimized and simplified approach
Kaho Takada, Shohei Ishikawa, Rikima Kuwada, Lester Geonzon, Koichi Mayumi, Takamasa Sakai
TL;DR
A new method enables deep mineralization of hydrogels with hydroxyapatite, improving biomimetic scaffold design for regenerative medicine.
Contribution
A simplified sequential immersion protocol achieves deep hydroxyapatite deposition in PEG sponge hydrogels.
Findings
Micron-scale porous architecture enhances mass permeability and ion diffusion.
Crystalline hydroxyapatite forms throughout the hydrogel with extended infiltration.
Mineralization strengthens the hydrogel without structural compromise.
Abstract
The controlled mineralization of hydrogels with hydroxyapatite (HAp) offers a promising route for engineering biomimetic scaffolds. However, conventional mineralization methods typically lead to surface-localized precipitation due to rapid ion depletion and limited transport within dense polymer networks, thereby restricting mineral penetration and compromising mechanical performance. Here, we present a simple sequential immersion protocol that achieves deep HAp deposition within a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) sponge hydrogel engineered via gel – gel phase separation and freeze – thaw processing. The resulting micron-scale porous architecture significantly enhances mass permeability, enabling bidirectional diffusion of phosphate and calcium ions. Structural and spectroscopic analyses confirm the formation of crystalline HAp throughout the hydrogel, while quantitative mapping of Liesegang…
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Taxonomy
TopicsCalcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition · Bone Tissue Engineering Materials · Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications