Nanocomposite Hydrogel Produced from PEGDA and Laponite for Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Herein, a nanocomposite hydrogel was produced using laponite and polyethylene-glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), with or without Irgacure (IG), for application in bone tissue regeneration. The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermal analysis (TG/DTG). The XRD results showed that the crystallographic structure of laponite was preserved in the nanocomposite hydrogels after the incorporation of PEGDA and IG. The FTIR results indicated that PEGDA polymer chains were entangled on laponite in hydrogels. The TG/DTG found that the presence of laponite (Lap) improved the thermal stability of nanocomposite hydrogel. The toxicity tests by Artemia salina indicated that the nanocomposite hydrogels were not toxic, because the amount of live nauplii was 80.0%. In addition, in vivo tests demonstrated that the hydrogels had the ability to regenerate bone in a bone defect model of the tibiae of osteopenic rats. For the nanocomposite hydrogel (PEGDA + Lap nanocomposites + UV light), the formation of intramembranous bone in the soft callus was more intense in 66.7% of the animals. Thus, the results presented in this study evidence that nanocomposite hydrogels obtained from laponite and PEGDA have the potential for use in bone regeneration.

Hydrogel Based on Nanoclay and Gelatin Methacrylate Polymeric Matrix as a Potential Osteogenic Application

“…SEM images of the Lap/GelMA composite and precursors are shown in Figure 6 . The SEM image of Lap ( Figure 6 A) consisted of particles of different sizes on a micrometer scale and with a rough and irregular surface, which agrees with a previous study [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. The image of the GelMA hydrogel is shown in Figure 6 B, showing an interconnected pore structure.…”

“…For the Lap/GelMA composite ( Figure 6 C), the SEM image suggests a more compact and less irregular surface, although still porous. The presence of pores is desirable since they facilitate cell adhesion, proliferation, and nutrition—essential characteristics for scaffolds to be used in tissue engineering [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”

“…Laponite has also been used as nanocomposites with different polymers for biomaterials, highlighting its use with PEGDA. Different characterizations have demonstrated their potential and in vitro and in vivo tests for bone regeneration [ 22 ].…”

Enhanced osteogenic and antibacterial properties of polyetheretherketone by ultraviolet‐initiated grafting polymerization of a gelatin methacryloyl/epsilon‐poly‐L‐lysine/laponite hydrogel coating

“…These results indicated the successful synthesis of GelMA and ε‐PLMA. In the Laponite spectrum, the peaks at 658 and 1008 cm −1 were ascribed to the MgOHMg bending vibration and the SiO stretching vibration, respectively 36 …”

“…In the Laponite spectrum, the peaks at 658 and 1008 cm À1 were ascribed to the Mg OH Mg bending vibration and the Si O stretching vibration, respectively. 36 According to the FTIR spectra of the hydrogel coating (Figure 2C), the amine I peak at 1634 cm À1 and amine II peak at 1537 cm À1 indicated the formation of the GelMA hydrogel on PEEK. No apparent differences were found in the spectra of PEEK-G and PEEK-GP, which might be due to the similar chemical composition of GelMA and ε-PLMA or the low concentrations of ε-PLMA in the hydrogel coating.…”