# Sol-Gel Synthesis of New Bioactive Organic-Inorganic Materials for Biomedical Use: SiO2/Ferulic Acid/PEG

## TL;DR

This paper describes the creation of new bioactive materials using SiO2, ferulic acid, and PEG, which could help in bone regeneration and biomedical applications.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the synthesis of SiO2-based biomaterials with ferulic acid and PEG for enhanced biocompatibility and bioactivity.

## Key findings

- The materials showed positive effects on cell proliferation and tissue regeneration markers.
- The materials demonstrated the ability to induce hydroxyapatite formation, indicating bioactive potential.

## Abstract

In this study, a series of SiO2-based biomaterials synthesized via the sol-gel technique was developed by integrating different weight percentages (10wt% and 15wt%) of ferulic acid (FA) and varying weight percentages (6wt%, 12wt%, and 24wt%) of polyethylene glycol (PEG). Chemical characterization of the materials was performed by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy to confirm the incorporation of the functional agents and the matrix structure. Biocompatibility was assessed through cell-based assays and gene expression analysis, highlighting a positive effect of the materials on cell proliferation and the regulation of key markers for tissue regeneration. Finally, the ability to induce hydroxyapatite (HA) formation was verified using simulated body fluid (SBF) following the Kokubo test, demonstrating the bioactive potential of the treated surfaces. The obtained results indicate that the combination of SiO2, FA, and PEG via sol-gel represents a promising platform for applications in the field of bone regeneration and functional biomaterials.